scholarly journals High rates of bacterial vaginosis and Chlamydia in a low-income, high-population-density community in Cape Town

2017 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katie S. Lennard ◽  
Smritee Dabee ◽  
Shaun L. Barnabas ◽  
Enock Havyarimana ◽  
Shameem Z. Jaumdally ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Population Density ◽  
Bacterial Vaginosis ◽  
South African ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Cape Town ◽  
African Women ◽  
High Population Density ◽  
Nugent Score ◽  
South African Women

Young South African women, from resource-poor communities, face several sexual and reproductive health challenges. Here we describe the vaginal microbiota and sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevalence of 102; 16–22-year-old, HIV-negative South African women from a low-income, high-population-density community in Cape Town (CPT). Vaginal microbiota were profiled using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing; bacterial vaginosis (BV) status was established using Nugent scoring and STIs were determined by multiplex polymerase chain reaction. STIs were common, with 55% of women having at least one STI; 41% were infected with high-risk human papilloma virus (HPV) and a further 28% with low-risk HPV; 44% were infected with Chlamydia, 16% of whom had at least one additional STI. Similarly, BV rates were very high, with 55% of women classified as BV-positive (Nugent score ≥7), 7% as BV-intermediate (Nugent score 3–6) and 38% as BV-negative (Nugent 0–2). Group B Streptococcus (Streptococcus agalactiae), the leading cause of neonatal sepsis, was present in 25% of BV-positive women and 28% of BV-negative women, and was significantly more abundant among BV-negative women. Both Chlamydia infection and BV may adversely affect reproductive health and place these women at additional risk for HIV acquisition. The high abundance of Prevotella amnii, in particular, may increase HIV risk, given its inflammatory capacity. Laboratory-based testing for STIs (Chlamydia and Gonorrhoeae in particular) appear to be warranted in this community, together with further monitoring or treatment of BV.Research correlation: This article is the original version, of which an Afrikaans translation was made available to provide access to a larger readership, available here: https://doi.org/10.4102/satnt.v36i1.1495

scholarly journals Exploring potential of vaginal Lactobacillus isolates from South African women for enhancing treatment for bacterial vaginosis

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. e1008559 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna-Ursula Happel ◽  
Brian Kullin ◽  
Hoyam Gamieldien ◽  
Nicole Wentzel ◽  
Chambrez Z. Zauchenberger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Vaginosis ◽  
South African ◽  
African Women ◽  
Vaginal Lactobacillus ◽  
South African Women

scholarly journals Evaluation of a behavior-centered design strategy for creating demand for oral PrEP among young women in Cape Town, South Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer F. Morton ◽  
Laura Myers ◽  
Katherine Gill ◽  
Linda-Gail Bekker ◽  
Gabrielle Stein ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Young Women ◽  
Cape Town ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
African Women ◽  
Primary Partner ◽  
Social Marketing Campaign ◽  
Demand Creation ◽  
South African Women ◽  
National Programs

Background: There is an urgent need to find effective interventions that reduce young South African women’s vulnerability to HIV, and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is highly effective when taken consistently. As national programs in Africa launch PrEP programs for young women, it is critical to understand how to effectively create awareness, stimulate interest, and increase uptake of PrEP. Methods: Behavior-centered design (BCD) guided the development of a PrEP social marketing campaign for young women. Ethnographic observations, in-depth interviews, and focus-group discussions with young South African women informed the content and design of a 90-second PrEP demand creation video and two informational brochures. A short survey was administered to young women at their homes after watching a video to evaluate PrEP interest. Of 800 households with a 16-25-year-old female identified from a Cape Town township census, 320 women in these households viewed the video and completed a survey about the video and their interest in PrEP. Results: In focus groups, young women from the township preferred local characters and messaging that was empowering, simple, and motivational. From the household survey of young women who viewed the video, most reported interest in learning more about PrEP (67.7% ‘definitely interested’ and 9.4% ‘somewhat interested’) and taking PrEP (56.4% ‘definitely interested’ and 12.5% ‘somewhat interested’). Factors significantly associated with interest in taking PrEP were having a primary partner with whom they regularly have sex (80.0% vs. 65.2% without a primary partner; adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=3.1, 95% CI: 1.3, 7.0) and being in a sexual partnership for <6 months (86.8% vs. 68.5% for >12 months; AOR=3.0, 95% CI: 1.2, 7.3). Conclusions: A positively framed PrEP demand creation video generated high interest in PrEP among young South African women, particularly among women with a primary partner and a shorter-term relationship. Registration: NCT03142256; registered on 5 May 2017.

scholarly journals Knowledge and attitudes about HIV infection and prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV in an urban, low income community in Durban, South Africa: Perspectives of residents and health care volunteers

2016 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
pp. 171-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Firoza Haffejee ◽  
Katie A. Ports ◽  
Maghboeba Mosavel
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Hiv Infection ◽  
South African ◽  
Low Income ◽  
African Women ◽  
Hiv Education ◽  
Testing Procedures ◽  
South African Women ◽  
Hiv Aids

Background: HIV prevalence is high among South African women of reproductive age and transmission of HIV from mothers to children is a concern. This study ascertained the level of knowledge about HIV infection and prevention, particularly prevention of mother toc hild transmission (PMTCT) amongst South African women from a low income community. It also established the challenges in delivering HIV education from the perspectives of health care volunteers.Method: Female residents (n = 67) from Kenneth Gardens, a low income community in Durban, South Africa were interviewed. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 health care volunteers who were either health care workers or residents who provided some form of social support in the community.Results: The majority of respondents indicated that a mother could transmit HIV to her child but were unable to specify how. Many women had general HIV/AIDS knowledge but were unable to identify essential prevention behaviours and were not very receptive to more information on HIV/AIDS. They were supportive of routine testing procedures and child bearing amongst HIV positive women. Health care volunteers indicated a need for a community clinic in the area.They also had limited knowledge of PMTCT and indicated that there was a need for more education on HIV, particularly to encourage the youth and men to use preventative measures.Conclusion: Innovative ways to impart knowledge particularly of PMTCT and updated standards of practice are essential. It is important that the community understands how transmission occurs so that prevention can follow.

scholarly journals Bacterial Vaginosis and Susceptibility to HIV Infection in South African Women: A Nested Case‐Control Study

2005 ◽  
Vol 192 (8) ◽  
pp. 1372-1380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Landon Myer ◽  
Lynette Denny ◽  
Robin Telerant ◽  
Michelle de Souza ◽  
Thomas C. Wright, Jr. ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Infection ◽  
Bacterial Vaginosis ◽  
South African ◽  
Case Control Study ◽  
Case Control ◽  
African Women ◽  
South African Women ◽  
Nested Case Control ◽  
Control Study

scholarly journals Evaluation of a behavior-centered design strategy for creating demand for oral PrEP among young women in Cape Town, South Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 29
Author(s):  
Jennifer F. Morton ◽  
Laura Myers ◽  
Katherine Gill ◽  
Linda-Gail Bekker ◽  
Gabrielle Stein ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Young Women ◽  
Cape Town ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
African Women ◽  
Primary Partner ◽  
Social Marketing Campaign ◽  
Demand Creation ◽  
South African Women ◽  
National Programs

Background: There is an urgent need to find effective interventions that reduce young South African women’s vulnerability to HIV, and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is highly effective when taken consistently. As national programs in Africa launch PrEP programs for young women, it is critical to understand how to effectively create awareness, stimulate interest, and increase uptake of PrEP. Methods: Behavior-centered design (BCD) guided the development of a PrEP social marketing campaign for young women. Ethnographic observations, in-depth interviews, and focus-group discussions with young South African women informed the content and design of a 90-second PrEP demand creation video and two informational brochures. A short survey was administered to young women at their homes after watching a video to evaluate PrEP interest. Of 800 households with a 16-25-year-old female identified from a Cape Town township census, 320 women in these households viewed the video and completed a survey about the video and their interest in PrEP. Results: In focus groups, young women from the township preferred local characters and messaging that was empowering, simple, and motivational. From the household survey of young women who viewed the video, most reported interest in learning more about PrEP (67.7% ‘definitely interested’ and 9.4% ‘somewhat interested’) and taking PrEP (56.4% ‘definitely interested’ and 12.5% ‘somewhat interested’). Factors significantly associated with interest in taking PrEP were having a primary partner with whom they regularly have sex (80.0% vs. 65.2% without a primary partner; adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=3.1, 95% CI: 1.3, 7.0) and being in a sexual partnership for <6 months (86.8% vs. 68.5% for >12 months; AOR=3.0, 95% CI: 1.2, 7.3). Conclusions: A positively framed PrEP demand creation video generated high interest in PrEP among young South African women, particularly among women with a primary partner and a shorter-term relationship. Registration: NCT03142256; registered on 5 May 2017.

scholarly journals Transkingdom Analysis of the Female Reproductive Tract Reveals Bacteriophages Form Communities

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ferralita S Madere ◽  
Michael Sohn ◽  
Angelina Winbush ◽  
Breona Barr ◽  
Alex Grier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Vaginosis ◽  
South African ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Alpha Diversity ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
African Women ◽  
Complex Interactions ◽  
Vaginal Health ◽  
South African Women ◽  
Community Clustering

The female reproductive tract (FRT) microbiome plays an important role in maintaining vaginal health. Viruses play a key role in regulating other microbial ecosystems, but little is known about how the FRT viruses (virome), particularly bacteriophages, impacts FRT health and dysbiosis. We hypothesize that bacterial vaginosis is associated with alterations in the FRT virome, and these changes correlate with bacteriome shifts. We conducted a retrospective, longitudinal analysis of vaginal swabs collected from 54 bacterial vaginosis (BV)-positive and 46 BV-negative South African women. Bacteriome analysis revealed samples clustered into five distinct bacterial community groups (CG). Bacterial alpha diversity was significantly associated with BV. Virome analysis on a subset of baseline samples showed FRT bacteriophages clustering into novel viral state types (VSTs), a viral community clustering system based on virome composition and abundance. Distinct BV bacteriophage signatures included increased alpha diversity along with Bacillus, Burkholderia and Escherichia bacteriophages. Discriminate bacteriophage-bacteria transkingdom associations were also identified between Bacillus and Burkholderia viruses and BV-associated bacteria, providing key insight for future studies elucidating transkingdom interactions driving BV-associated microbiome perturbations. In this cohort, bacteriophage-bacterial associations suggest complex interactions which may play a role in the establishment and maintenance of BV.

scholarly journals Developing a model for reducing maternal mortality in South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 269-277
Author(s):  
Rose Maureen Makapi Mmusi-Phetoe ◽  
Brian Barasa Masaba
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Maternal Mortality ◽  
South African ◽  
Antenatal Clinic ◽  
African Women ◽  
Hiv Status ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Area Of Concern ◽  
South African Women

Abstract Objective High maternal mortality ratios (MMRs) remain a concern in many parts of the world, especially in developing countries like South Africa. Different models have been developed, tried, and tested worldwide, in the hope that they will reduce maternal mortality, but without much success. Methods A qualitative approach was used to conveniently select a sample of 10 women attending an antenatal clinic in a rural area, in one of the districts of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Province. Data were collected by means of interviews with the women. Data were analyzed employing Burnard's content analysis approach. Results Four themes emerged: (1) age at first pregnancy; (2) birth intervals, risks in pregnancy and hospitalization; (3) the use of contraception; and (4) HIV status. All themes that emerged revealed inattention to reproductive health (RH) needs, resulting in poor RH outcomes as an area of concern. Conclusions Greater emphasis needs to be placed on meeting the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs of South African women, if maternal mortality rates are to be reduced. An alternative model for reducing maternal mortality in South Africa is proposed.

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