Cultural consensus modelling to understand the reproductive health needs of South African adolescent girls

Background. Cultural consensus modelling (CCM) is an approach whereby individuals define the boundaries regarding a set of knowledge or behaviours shared by a group within a culture using an ethnographic approach. Objectives. To provide an overview of CCM methods and the application of CCM to examine South African adolescent girls' contraceptive and HIV prevention practices. Methods. In phase 1 of a CCM approach, individuals respond to questions about their culture rather than their individual behaviours, allowing individuals to draw upon a shared cultural knowledge. Utilising these identified group beliefs, phase 2 asks individuals to rate the extent to which factors identified in phase 1 are valued. Phase 3 utilises qualitative interviews with key informants from phase 2 to gather in-depth information regarding the identified determinants of the health behaviour. Lastly, phase 4 of this approach conducts a quantitative survey to determine the extent to which cultural consensus model types are associated with differences in actual behaviours. Results. CCM data analytic approaches are described. Frequencies and descriptive statistics for the free listing are conducted. For phase 2, cultural consensus analysis is conducted to examine whether one or several consensus models exist and competence scores are calculated. Standard qualitative analysis approaches are utilised for phase 3. Phase 4 employs regression to examine the association between cultural models and an outcome of interest. Conclusion. CCM provides a novel, culturally sensitive understanding of reproductive health practices among South African adolescent girls; CCM also has broad applicability to other adolescent health research domains

Estradiol and progesterone fecal metabolites analysis in crab-eating-fox (Cerdocyoun thous) / Análise de metabólitos fecais de estradiol e progesterona em cachorro-do-mato (Cerdocyoun thous)

In this study, four crab-eating fox females (Cerdocyon thous) maintained at the Federal University of Mato Grosso Zoo, Cuiabá, Brazil, were investigated for 12 months, using feces measurement of estradiol and progesterone concentrations. Fecal collections were performed three times a week for hormone extraction. Two methods of analysis, Elisa (EIA) and Radioimmunoassay (RIA), were used in the measurement of progesterone (P4) and estradiol (E2) metabolites. The aim of this study was to compare and validate two different methods of hormone measurement for C. thous. There were no differences regarding the method used. The Radioimmunoassay technique proved to be more sensitive, however, both showed similar results.(AU)

Neste estudo, quatro fêmeas de cachorros-do-mato (Cerdocyon thous) mantidas no Zoológico da Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, MT, Brasil, foram investigadas pelo período de 12 meses, mediante a mensuração de concentrações de estradiol e progesterona em fezes. Coletas de fezes foram realizadas três vezes por semana para posterior extração hormonal. Dois métodos de análise de metabólitos fecais, elisaimunoensaio (EIA) e radioimunoensaio (RIA), foram utilizados na mensuração dos metabólitos de progesterona (P4) e estradiol (E2). O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar e validar dois diferentes métodos de mensuração hormonal para C. thous. Não houve diferença significativa com relação ao método empregado. A técnica de radioimunoensaio demonstrou ser mais sensível, no entanto ambas apresentaram resultados semelhantes.(AU)

The AIDS epidemic in the Amazon region: a spatial case-control study in Rondonia, Brazil / Epidemia de Sida en la region amazonica: estudio caso control espacial en Rondonia, Brasil / Epidemia da Aids na regiao amazonica: estudo caso controle espacial em Rondonia, Brasil

OBJECTIVE To analyze spatial changes in the risk of AIDS and the relationship between AIDS incidence and socioeconomic variables in the state of Rondonia, Amazon region. METHODS A spatial, population case-control study in Rondonia, Brazil, based on 1,780 cases reported to the Epidemiological Surveillance System and controls based on demographic data from 1987 to 2006. The cases were grouped into five consecutive four-year periods. A generalized additive model was adjusted to the data; the dependent variable was the status of the individuals (case or control), and the independent variables were a bi-dimensional spline of the geographic coordinates and some municipality-level socioeconomic variables. The observed values of the Moran’s I test were compared to a reference distribution of values generated under conditions of spatial randomness. RESULTS AIDS risk shows a marked spatial and temporal pattern. The disease incidence is related to socioeconomic variables at the municipal level in Rondônia, such as urbanization and human capital. The highest incidence rates of AIDS are in municipalities along the BR-364 highway and calculations of the Moran’s I test show positive spatial correlation associated with proximity of the municipality to the highway in the third and fourth periods (p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Incidence of the disease is higher in municipalities of greater economic wealth and urbanization, and in those municipalities bisected by Rondônia’s main roads. The rapid development associated with the opening up of once remote regions may be accompanied by an increase in these risks to health. .

OBJETIVO Analizar cambios espaciales en el riesgo de Sida y la relación entre incidencia de la enfermedad y variables socioeconómicas. MÉTODOS Estudio caso-control espacial, de base poblacional, realizado en Rondonia, Brasil con 1.780 casos notificados por el Sistema de Vigilancia Epidemiológica y los controles a partir de datos demográficos de 1987 a 2006. Los casos fueron agrupados en cinco períodos de cinco años consecutivos. Un modelo aditivo generalizado fue ajustado a los datos. El estatus de los individuos (caso o control) fue considerado como la variable dependiente e independiente: un alisamiento (spline) bidimensional de las coordenadas geográficas y variables socioeconómicas municipales. Los valores observados para la prueba Moran I fueron comparados con la distribución de referencia de los valores obtenidos en condiciones de aleatoriedad espacial. RESULTADOS El riesgo de Sida presentó patrón espacial y temporal marcado. La incidencia se asoció a indicadores socioeconómicos municipales, como urbanización y capital humano. Las mayores tasas de incidencia de Sida ocurrieron en municipios a lo largo de la carretera BR-364; los resultados de la prueba Moran I muestran correlación espacial positiva asociada a la cercanía de los municipios a la carretera, en el tercero y cuarto periodos (p=0,05). CONCLUSIONES La incidencia de la enfermedad fue mayor en municipios de mayor riqueza económica y urbanización y en aquellos atravesados por las carreteras principales de Rondonia. El rápido desarrollo asociado a la ocupación de regiones remotas puede ser acompañado por aumento de riesgos para la salud. .

OBJETIVO Analisar mudanças espaciais no risco de Aids e a relação entre incidência da doença e variáveis socioeconômicas. MÉTODOS Estudo caso-controle espacial, de base populacional, realizado em Rondônia, Brasil, com 1.780 casos notificados pelo Sistema de Vigilância Epidemiológica e os controles a partir de dados demográficos de 1987 a 2006. Os casos foram agrupados em cinco períodos de cinco anos consecutivos. Um modelo aditivo generalizado foi ajustado aos dados. O status dos indivíduos (caso ou controle) foi considerado como a variável dependente e independente: um alisamento ( spline ) bidimensional das coordenadas geográficas e variáveis socioeconômicas municipais. Os valores observados para o teste Moran I foram comparados com a distribuição de referência dos valores obtidos em condições de aleatoriedade espacial. RESULTADOS O risco de Aids apresentou padrão espacial e temporal marcado. A incidência associou-se a indicadores socioeconômicos municipais, como urbanização e capital humano. As maiores taxas de incidência de Aids ocorreram em municípios ao longo da rodovia BR-364; os resultados do teste Moran I mostram correlação espacial positiva associada à contiguidade dos municípios com a rodovia, no terceiro e quarto períodos (p = 0,05). CONCLUSÕES A incidência da doença foi maior em municípios de maior riqueza econômica e urbanização e naqueles cortados pelas estradas principais de Rondônia. O rápido desenvolvimento associado à ocupação de regiões remotas pode ser acompanhado por aumento de riscos à saúde. .

Influence of placental malaria infection on foetal outcome in the Gambia: twenty years after Ian Mcgregor.

Malaria infection in pregnancy has serious health consequences among mothers and offspring. The influence of placental malaria infection on foetal outcome was studied in a Gambian rural setting where few pregnant women take antimalarial chemoprophylaxis. During July-December 1997, three hundred thirteen mother-newborn pairs (singletons only) were consecutively recruited into a study of the effects of placental malaria infection on the outcome of pregnancy. Placental blood and tissue were collected at delivery. Babies were clinically assessed until discharge. The overall prevalence of placental malaria infection was 51.1% by placental histology and 37.1% by blood smear. The primigravid women were more susceptible to placental malaria than the multigravidae (65.3% vs 44.7%, p=0.01). Placental malaria was significantly associated with pre-term deliveryand intrauterine growth retardation (p<0.01), and there was a four-fold risk of delivering low-birth-weight babies if mothers had parasitized placentae [OR=4.42, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.10-9.27]. A reduction of mean birth-weight of babies by 320 g was associated with placental malaria infection (p<0.001). Similarly, a two-fold risk of stillbirth delivery (OR=2.22, 95% CI 1.04-4.72) was observed among the infected mothers. The findings showed that there was still an overall poor foetal outcome associated with placental malaria infection. The findings of this study confirm the findings of an earlier study by McGregor in the Gambia that the low birth-weight rate is significantly higher if the placenta is parasitized. In addition, this study observed that the high stillbirth and prematurity rates were associated with placental malaria infection. The findings of the present study suggest undertaking of effective malaria-control strategies during pregnancy, such as use of insecticide-impregnated bednets, intermittent and early treatment for malaria, and antimalarial chemoprophylaxis, in the Gambia.

Flit-gun sprayer characteristics

Six flit-gun sprayers were tested for possible use in mosquito adulticide programs where inexpensive nonmotorized application technology may be required. An analysis of variance for differences in droplets ≤ 24 microns (µ), droplets ≥ 48 µ, droplets/cm2, volume median diameters, and mosquito mortality is provided. As shown by these data, good results can be achieved with this equipment.

Se pusieron a prueba seis atomizadores de compresión activados a mano a fin de evaluar su utilidad para programas de exterminio de mosquitos adultos en que se necesiten tecnologías no motorizadas de bajo costo. Se hace un análisis de la varianza en cuanto a partículas ≤ 24 y ≥ 48 micras (µ), partículas/cm2, diámetro del volumen mediano, y número de mosquitos muertos. Los datos confirman que pueden obtenerse buenos resultados con aparatos de este tipo.

Mutante de Streptococcus lactis con resistencia a bacteriófagos aislados en Argentina y Estados Unidos de América / A mutant of Streptococcus lactis with resistance to bacteriophages isolated in Argentina and the United States of America

Streptococcuslactis y S. cremoris, bacterias lácticas utilizadas para la producción de quesos, pueden reesultar infectadas por bacteriófago específicos, lo que ocasiona alteraciones en la calidad, disminución de la productividad económicas significativas. Los métodos de desinfección y control más usuales no siempre resultan en una completa protección contra la proliferación de los fagos, por los que se ha recurrido al empleo de cepas resistentes a los mismos. En el presente trabajo se ha empleado un método simple y directo para obtener mutantes espontáneas de S. lactis con resistencia a fagos. La mutante S.lacts C26 obtenida a partir de la cepa S. lactis C2 sensible a fagos exhibe propiedades bioquímicas y microbiológicas similares a las de la cepa original C2, diferenciándose de ella por una clara resistencia al fago St15, de morfología alargada, utilizado para la selección. Las curvas de la cinética de crecimiento de la mutante en ausencia y en presencia del fago resultaron semejantes. La cepa C26 fue controlada con otros dos fagos aislados en Argentina y con seis fagos de dos tipos morfológicos, aislados en la Universidad de Cornell en EE.UU. La cepa C26 que fuera aislada como mutante resistente al fafo St15, resultó también resistente a todos ellos. Por otra parte, ha sido de interés verficar que los fagos no siempre observan una especificidad estricta con respecto a la especie de la célula huésped. El fago D59-1, aislado utilizando una cepa S. cremoris, también provoca una lisis significativa en la cepa S. lactis C2, suiriendo que ambas poseen sitios receptores semejantes. La mutante C26 fue empleada con éxito en Buenos Aires, en la planta elaborada de quesos donde fuera aislado el fago St15, lo que alienta la posibilidad de emplear esta metodología en el desarrollo de fermentos lácticos