Condom social marketing program to prevent HIV/AIDS in post-conflict Liberia.

BACKGROUND: Youths in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) account for a large burden of the global HIV/STI crises. As such, strategies directed at promoting behavioral modifications would be critical to reducing the prevalence of risky sexual behaviors among high risk adolescents in post-conflict environments. OBJECTIVES: This study describes a condom promotion strategy to prevent HIV/STIs among highly vulnerable urban youth in a post-conflict, resource-constrained environment via the provision of both male and female condoms to nontraditional venues like music and photo shops, ice cream parlors, money exchange centers and beauty salons. METHODS: Community members in the designated catchment areas volunteered their services and the use of their small businesses to support this endeavor. RESULTS: In this paper, we describe the condom promotion strategy and its implications within the context of a community-based participatory social marketing program to prevent risky sexual behaviors among highly vulnerable urban youth in a post-conflict country. CONCLUSION: We postulate that this approach may likely increase condom use among urban youth in Monrovia, the capital city of Liberia.

Condom use behaviours among 18-24 year-old urban African American males: a qualitative study.

The purpose of this pilot project was to develop, administer and assess a brief male-focused and behavioural-driven condom promotion programme for young adult African American males in an urban setting. To achieve the aims of this study, linkages with local community centres were initially fostered and both quantitative and qualitative research methods were employed. Based on relevant tenets of the social cognitive theory and the stages of change model, a series of focus groups were conducted among the target population, recruited from non-traditional urban settings, to identify and further explore their perceived condom use barriers and facilitators in order to support programme development. Specifically, the topical items addressed those young men's perceptions of sexuality and condom use within three broad contexts: general sexual behaviours, condom use behaviours, and the relationship between condoms and substance use. The focus group discussions were audiotaped and the transcribed data summarized and analysed based on those thematic topics. The findings revealed that significant myths, misconceptions and knowledge gaps exist regarding HIV/STD-related prevention, condom promotion and substance use. The findings imply that there is a critical need to develop target group suitable condom promotion programmes in order to successfully promote, foster and sustain condom use among high-risk populations.

Developing capacity to protect human research subjects in a post-conflict, resource-constrained setting: procedures and prospects.

The capacity-building strategy used by a US-based research organisation, the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE), to strengthen the system for the protection of human research subjects and the infrastructure of its international collaborating partner, the University of Liberia, are discussed. To conduct the much-needed biomedical and social science-based research-related activities in the future, this partnership is expected by PIRE to gradually evolve over time to strengthen the capacity of the local investigators and administrators of the University of Liberia. Accordingly, a unique opportunity to share technology and resources with a post-conflict, resource-constrained country is created by this partnership. This capacity-building model to strengthen the protection of human subjects in research can also be replicated in similar resource-constrained international settings and, accordingly, our experiences and limitations are shared in this paper.

A community-based assessment of heat-related morbidity in North Philadelphia.

A 6-month community-based study designed to (1) determine the perceptions and barriers affecting the overall quality of life of isolated older adults greater than 65 years of age, (2) assess their risk factors, health attitudes, and beliefs concerning their susceptibility to heat-related conditions, and (3) evaluate the effectiveness of an age-specific innovative intervention program consisting of a specially marked clock-like thermometer and other creative educational materials was conducted among 34 participants during the spring and summer of 1997 in north Philadelphia. The study objectives were measured at preintervention (baseline) and at 8 weeks postintervention follow-up using a 24-item pretest/posttest self-administered questionnaire. We report the short-term benefit of our intervention, theorize that innovative strategies targeting at-risk older adults should be culturally sensitive and age-specifically appropriate, and recommend that more vigorous research methods should be implemented to lend credence to our findings.

Developing a self-administered tool to predict adherence to antiretroviral therapy: design, method, and objectives.

Noncompliance to current antiretroviral therapy may be one of the greatest public health challenges associated with the management of HIV/AIDS. The public health consequences extend beyond an individual's health decisions, judgements, and responsibilities to include societal concerns and ethical considerations. Understanding the predictors of compliance and noncompliance to current antiretroviral therapies, and identifying individuals according to their expected compliance outcomes are important aspects associated with the successful management of HIV-infected individuals. The stepwise methodological approach utilized to develop the self-administered survey instrument predictive of compliance to complex antiretroviral drugs regimens and adherence to other medical recommendations is reported, and the implications discussed.

Human immunodeficiency virus in breast milk.

As the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic spreads to the pediatric population, a recommendation is made for more research on mother-to-infant human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission, in light of current policies, and the scientific community is challenged to re-evaluate its attitude to the pathogenesis of HIV transmission by breast milk.

Review of the impact on the activation of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 of ultraviolet light.

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome is a devastating disease with a high mortality rate and the failure of adequate therapy and vaccine stands in sharp contrast to the ultimate progress made in the biomedical sciences. We review the damaging effects of ultraviolet rays on the activation of the human immunodeficiency virus type-1, and theorize that human immunodeficiency virus type-1 positive individuals should minimize their exposures to prolonged and unnecessary ultraviolet radiations such as sunbaths, phototherapy or cosmetic treatments based on a risk-benefit analysis as more epidemiological studies are investigated.