scholarly journals The Impact of the Quality of Sexual Education on HIV/AIDS in Zambia: Evidence from a Natural Experiment

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arlette Simo Fotso ◽  
Sally Findley ◽  
Vesper H. Chisumpa ◽  
Karampreet Sachathep ◽  
Lloyd B. Mulenga

Abstract Background:This paper focuses on how sexual education quality is associated with HIV-related knowledge, stigma and risky sexual behaviour among Zambians. The implementation of the Comprehensive Sexuality Education programme since 2014, with sequential in-service teacher training provides a natural experiment for testing the hypothesis that quality of sexual education, not quantity only, is positively associated with HIV knowledge, and negatively associated with risky sexual behaviours and stigma. Methods:Data are drawn from the 2016 Zambian Population-Based HIV Impact Assessment survey, which sampled 24,663 individuals aged 15-59 years old nationwide. Province fixed-effects double difference model is used to test our hypothesis. Results:We found that sexual education with well-trained teachers reduced the number of HIV-related stigma by 0.13 points, while as expected it was associated with a greater number of correct HIV-related knowledge (0.29 points). No significant association was found between quality of sex education and risky sexual behaviours. Conclusion:These results point to the importance of investing in high quality sexual education to combat the HIV-AIDS progression.

Author(s):  
Zhifeng Zhang ◽  
Hongyan Duan ◽  
Shuangshuang Shan ◽  
Qingzhi Liu ◽  
Wenhui Geng

This article uses the “Green Credit Guidelines” promulgated in 2012 as an example to construct a quasi-natural experiment and uses the double difference method to test the impact of the implementation of the “Green Credit Guidelines” on the green innovation activities of heavy-polluting enterprises. The study found that, in comparison to non-heavy polluting enterprises, the implementation of green credit policies inhibited the green innovation of all heavy-polluting enterprises. In the analysis of heterogeneity, this restraint effect did not differ significantly due to the nature of property rights and the company’s size. The mechanism test showed that green credit policy limits the efficiency of business investment and increases the cost of financing business debt. Eliminating corporate credit financing, particularly long-term borrowing, negatively impacts the green innovation behavior of listed companies.


2011 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 126
Author(s):  
Toha Muhaimin ◽  
Budi Utomo ◽  
Dharmayati B. Utoyo ◽  
Nia Kurniati ◽  
Triyanti Anugrahini ◽  
...  

Anak penderita Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) di Indonesia memperlihatkan tren yang semakin meningkat karena meningkatnya proporsi perempuan terinfeksi HIV/AIDS. Pertimbangan pada dampak besar yang dihadapi anak penderita HIV mendorong kebutuhan pengembangan instrumen khusus untuk mengukur kualitas hidup mereka. Penelitian ini bertujuan mengembangkan instrumen kualitas hidup anak penderita AIDS dengan memodifikasi instrumenyang ada sesuai dengan konteks Indonesia. Pada penelitian ini ditemukan hasil bahwa instrumen yang dikembangkan mempunyai reliabilitas yang cukup baik pada balita dan anak usia 5 – 11 tahun. Nilai reliabilitas (Cronbach’s Alpha) balita, domain fungsi fisik, fungsi sosial, dan gejala HIV masing masing adalah 0,71; 0,72; dan 0,88, sedangkan pada anak 5 – 11 tahun, domain fungsi-fungsi fisik, psikologis, sosial, sekolah, dan gejala terkait HIV masing-masing 0,76; 0,89; 0,67; 0,67; dan 0,88. Penelitian ini menunjukkan untuk konteks Indonesia, nilai ambang batas CD4 yang menunjukkan perbedaan kualitas hidup adalah 15%. Pada balita, dari berbagai ketiga domain, hanya domain gejala terkait HIV yang cukup sensitif untuk mendeteksi perbedaan kualitas hidup anak, sementara pada anak 5 – 11 hanya domain fungsi fisik dan fungsi psikologis yang cukup sensitif untuk mendeteksi perbedaan kualitas hidup anak. Penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa dampak HIV pada anak masih terkonsentrasi pada gangguan fungsi fisik, fungsi psikologis, dan gejala terkait HIV.Kata kunci: Instrumen pengukuran, anak terinfeksi HIV, kualitas hidupAbstractChildren with HIV/AIDS in Indonesia are increasing due to the increase of woman with HIV. A special instrument for measuring quality of life (QoL) of children with HIV is needed to be developed as the great impact of the infection to children. This study was conducted by modifying the existing QoL instrument of children for Indonesian context. The study indicated that thereliability of the instrument is quite good both for children under 5 and 5 – 11 years old. Reliability values (Cronbach’s Alpha) for under 5, domains of physical function, social function, and HIV-related symptoms are 71, 72, and 88 respectively while for children 5 – 11 years old, domains of physical, psychological, social, and school functions, and HIV-related symptoms are 76, 89, 67, 67, and 88 respectively. The study showed, for Indonesian context, 15% of CD4 is indicated as the threshold to detect the difference of QoL forchildren with HIV. However, for under 5 years old, only questions of HIV-related symptoms domain which is sensitive to detect difference QoL, whereas for children of 5 – 11 years old, the questions concerning physical and psychological domains which are sensitive to detect difference QoL. The study indicated that the impact of HIV on children is mostly on physical andpsychological functions and HIV-related symptoms.Key words: Measurement instrument, children with HIV, quality of life


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A45-A45
Author(s):  
J Leota ◽  
D Hoffman ◽  
L Mascaro ◽  
M Czeisler ◽  
K Nash ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Home court advantage (HCA) in the National Basketball Association (NBA) is well-documented, yet the co-occurring drivers responsible for this advantage have proven difficult to examine in isolation. The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic resulted in the elimination of crowds in ~50% of games during the 2020/2021 NBA season, whereas travel remained unchanged. Using this ‘natural experiment’, we investigated the impact of crowds and travel-related sleep and circadian disruption on NBA HCA. Methods 1080 games from the 2020/2021 NBA regular season were analyzed using mixed models (fixed effects: crowds, travel; random effects: team, opponent). Results In games with crowds, home teams won 58.65% of the time and outrebounded (M=2.28) and outscored (M=2.18) their opponents. In games without crowds, home teams won significantly less (50.60%, p = .01) and were outrebounded (M=-0.41, p < .001) and outscored (M=-0.13, p < .05) by their opponents. Further, the increase in home rebound margin fully mediated the relationship between crowds and home points margin (p < .001). No significant sleep or circadian effects were observed. Discussion Taken together, these results suggest that HCA in the 2020/2021 NBA season was predominately driven by the presence of crowds and their influence on the effort exerted by the home team to rebound the ball. Moreover, we speculate that the strict NBA COVID-19 policies may have mitigated the travel-related sleep and circadian effects on the road team. These findings are of considerable significance to a domain wherein marginal gains can have immense competitive, financial, and even historical consequences.


Author(s):  
Obakeng L. Makgale ◽  
Ilse Elisabeth Plattner

Little is known about sexting behaviours among young people living in African countries. This exploratory study investigated sexting behaviours among undergraduate students in Botswana (N = 309, 64.5% female; mean age = 20.3 years). Most participants (84.8%) had received sexts and many (61.8%) had sent sexts at least once in their lifetime. Reasons for sending sexts were to flirt (42.9%), to have fun (24.6%), and/or to initiate sexual activity (17.8%). Only 36.7% of the participants were worried about their sexts being forwarded to others, and 30.2% had forwarded sexts to others. Being sexually active (OR = 4.52), drinking alcohol (OR = 2.52), and having a mother with tertiary level education (OR = 0.40) emerged as significant predictors of sending sexts. Among participants who had sexual intercourse at least once in their lifetime (N = 164), an increase in the frequency of sexting was associated with an increase in the number of sexual partners and with sex under the influence of alcohol and drugs. However, sexting behaviours were not associated with unprotected sex. The results are compared with findings from Western countries and discussed with regard to public health care and safe sex education in Botswana.


Author(s):  
Antoine Douaihy ◽  
Matthew Conlon ◽  
Maria Ferrara

Depressive disorders are highly prevalent among persons living with HIV/AIDS. Depressive disorders significantly negatively affects adherence to antiretroviral therapy and HIV viral suppression and is associated with poor quality of life and major impairment in overall functioning. This chapter reviews the prevalence, risk factors, assessment and diagnosis of depressive and bipolar disorders. It also examines the impact of depression on sexual behaviors, adherence to antiretroviral therapy, quality of life, and mortality. This chapter also includes a comprehensive discussion of treatment approaches and considerations for HIV-infected individuals with depressive disorders. Furthermore, it reviews the bipolar disorder spectrum in HIV/AIDS as well as other psychiatric disorders co-occurring with depressive disorders.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hesam Ghiasvand ◽  
Katherine M. Waye ◽  
Mehdi Noroozi ◽  
Gholamreza Ghaedamini Harouni ◽  
Bahram Armoon ◽  
...  

Abstract Background During recent years, Quality of Life (QoL) is a significant assessment factor in clinical trials and epidemiological researches due to the advent of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) has become a manageable,chronic disease. With regards, more attention must be paid to the QoL of infected patients. Limited evidence exists on the impact of ART on QoL among HIV infected patients. Due to lacking of a systematic approach to summarizing the available evidence on the clinical determinants of People Who Live with HIV/AIDS (PWLHs’) QoL, this study aimed to analyze the impact of clinical determinants (ART experience, CD4 count < 200, co-morbidities, time diagnosis and accessibility to cares) on QoL among PWLHs’. Methods This study was designed in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, and Cochrane electronic databases were searched in February 2017 to identify all past studies that discussed social and behavioral characteristics of QoL in PLWHA. To recognize effective factors on social and behavioral QoL, a meta-analysis was conducted. Polled Odds Ratios (ORs) were utilized at a 95% confidence level. Since sampling methods differed between articles in the systematic review, we evaluated pooled estimates using a random effect model. Metan, metareg, metacum, and metabias commands in STATA version 13.0 were applied to analyze the data. Results Our findings indicated that ART has a positive impact on QoL, with a pooled effect size at approximately 1.04 with a confidence interval between 0.42 to 1.66 which indicates this impact is not very considerable and may be relatively neutral. The pooled effect size for CD4 count on QoL was .29 (95%CI = .22–.35), indicating that there is a negative associate between CD4 count and QoL. The co-morbidity as a negative determinant for QoL among HIV/AIDS infected people. The pooled effect size implies on a relative neutral association, although the confidence interval is wide and ranges between 0.32 to 1.58. The pooled effect size is about 1.82 with confidence interval 1.27 to 2.37 which indicates a considerable positive association with lowest level of heterogeneity. Conclusions The results illustrated that time diagnosing and availability to hospital services had significant relationship with a higher QoL and CD4 < 200 was associated with a lower QoL. In conclusion, policy makers should set an agenda setting to provide a suitable diagnostic and therapeutic facilities to early detecting and continues monitoring the health status of People Who Live with HIV/AIDS (PWLHs’).


2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 2561-2607 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Bauernschuster ◽  
Anastasia Driva ◽  
Erik Hornung

Abstract We study the impact of social health insurance on mortality. Using the introduction of compulsory health insurance in the German Empire in 1884 as a natural experiment, we estimate difference-in-differences and regional fixed effects models exploiting variation in eligibility for insurance across occupations. Our findings suggest that Bismarck’s health insurance generated a significant mortality reduction. Despite the absence of antibiotics and most vaccines, we find the results to be largely driven by a decline of deaths from infectious diseases. Further evidence suggests that statutory access to well-trained doctors was an elementary channel. This finding may be explained by insurance fund physicians transmitting new knowledge on infectious disease prevention.


Sexual Health ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Handan Wand ◽  
Joanne Bryant ◽  
Heather Worth ◽  
Marian Pitts ◽  
John M. Kaldor ◽  
...  

Background Earlier age at sexual debut is associated with drug and alcohol use, risky sexual behaviours and sexually transmissible infections (STI). Methods: In the present study, 2320 young Indigenous Australians were surveyed. Results: Most study participants had sex for the first time when they were 14 years or younger (79% and 67% for males and females respectively). More than 80% of participants were categorised as being in the high-risk category for the combined sexual risk factors (i.e. not using condoms, drunk or high at last sexual act, or three or more sexual partners in the past year). There was a linear decreasing trend between the proportion of males and females who had less than high school education and age at first sex (Ptrend < 0.001). Compared with the highest quintile of age at first sexual debut (≥18 years), those in the bottom quintile (<15 years) were less likely to have completed high school (63% vs 32% respectively for males; 68% vs 26% respectively for females; Ptrend < 0.001 for both). Conclusions: The findings of the present study suggest that sex education and STI prevention should start early when targeting Indigenous young people, with age-appropriate messages. Sex education should be comprehensive and address individual risk behaviours, sexual agency and societal vulnerability to not only delay sexual debut, but also to emphasise the importance of STI prevention through condom use, which clearly already works to a certain extent with this group.


2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bhavna Mukund ◽  
Rejani Thudalikunil Gopalan

Background: People living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) manifest a wide range of stress responses ranging from disbelief, denial, fear to extreme conditions of anxiety disorders, depression and even suicidal thoughts. These complications can have a significant impact on daily functioning and greatly diminish quality of life. Mental wellbeing and Quality of Life can help in better management of stress and facilitate adaptive coping among PLWHA. Aim: The research examined the impact of mental wellbeing and Quality of Life on Depression, Anxiety and Stress among people living with HIV/AIDS infection. Research Design: Cross sectional survey design was used. Sample: A sample of 60 people (males and females of equal number) over the age of 18 years and with the diagnosis for HIV/AIDS for more than six months participated in the study. Tools used: To assess the depression, anxiety and stress among PLWHA, DASS scale was used and to assess their psychological wellbeing, Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-Being scale was used. In order to assess their present status of QOL regarding the illness, WHO’s QOL HIV-BREF Scale was used. Results: Majority of the PLWHA had moderate level of anxiety and mild level of depression after being diagnosed. Most of the participants have positive mental well-being and had enhanced quality of life. Conclusion: A direct effect of mental wellbeing has been found on the depression, anxiety and stress among PLWHA indicating that higher the mental wellbeing of the PLWHA, the greater is the likelihood that they do not suffer from depression, exhibit less anxiety and are living a stress free life and vice versa. The study also found direct impact of QOL on psychological distress, depression and anxiety among PLWHA i.e. poor QOL of PLWHA makes them more prone to and vulnerable to stress, depression and anxiety and vice versa.


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