Evaluation of HIV voluntary counselling and testing services in Egypt. Part 1: client satisfaction

HIV voluntary counselling and testing [VCT] services were launched in Egypt in 2005. A study of all functioning VCT centres in Egypt [7 mobile and 9 fixed] aimed to determine the profile of clients and their level of satisfaction to identify strengths and weaknesses in the service. In direct interviews with a sample of 928 clients, the main motive for seeking VCT was risky sexual behaviour [34.2%]. More females than males sought services because of partners' risky sexual behaviour. More than 90% of the clients were satisfied with the counselling service. Only 41.4% were willing to discuss the test results with their partners. Male sex, higher education level and attendance at fixed VCT centres were associated with higher satisfaction

Evaluation of HIV voluntary counselling and testing services in Egypt. Part 2: service providers' satisfaction

Voluntary counselling and testing [VCT] services are major components of HIV prevention and treatment efforts. A study in Egypt aimed to determine the satisfaction of service providers at VCTs to identify strengths and weaknesses in the service. Direct interviews with all 50 VCT team members and focus group discussions with 16 counsellors showed that the majority believed that they had received enough training [90%], but still 66% wanted further training. Only 50% reported receiving sufficient incentives. Problems that were highlighted included absence of a fixed job description, lack of administrative support, unclear working rules and regulations and lack of proper community awareness. Counsellors expressed the need for improving working environment to ensure privacy and confidentiality

Some haemodynamic and metabolic effects of rapid calcium administration [acute calcium stress] on humans in health and disease

An introduction about the recently discovered importance of the calcium ion in regulating cellular and subcellular activities has been presented. The extreme rarity of published documents on the haemodynamic effects of acute calcium stress as well as its metabolic role is explored and stressed. The pharmacological relationship between calcium and the autonomic sympathetic nervous system activity is discussed. The study of the effects of hypercalcaemia as a result of rapid administration of 20 ml of a 10% solution of calcium gluconate [equivalent to 180 mg. of calcium] intravenously is evaluated as regards some of its haemodynamic and metabolic actions. The acute hypercalcaemic stress is investigated with regard to its effect in fasting human subjects on: [a] arterial blood pressure before, directly after and every 15 minutes subsequently for 90 minutes and [b] blood sugar level before and every 15 minutes for 90 minutes from the first estimation. The findings have been discussed evaluating the relation to each other in [a] normal subjects and, [b] diabetic, [c] hypertensive and [d] bilharzial hepatic fibrosis with and without ascites patients. The need for more studies to clarify the physiological activity of the calcium is forewarded