Soft computing framework for modelling transmission dynamics of HIV/AIDS under combined use of male and female condoms in heterosexual populations of Taraba State

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
B.Y. Baha

The widespread of HIV/AIDS has continued to constitute serious health and socioeconomic challenges for more than two decades, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. A permanent cure for this pandemic is not yet established and the issue of abstinence or faithfulness to sexual partners seems to be very difficult. This study used Genetic Agorithm of Soft Computing Framework for Modelling Transmission Dynamics of HIV/AIDS under combined use of male and female condoms in heterosexual populations of Taraba State. A total of 761 questionnaires were distributed to HIV/AIDS patients in the three senatorial zones of Taraba State. The researcher identified four set of terminals as independent variables: Never used condom, Used condom occasionally, Used condom most of the time, and Used condom all of the time. These values were converted to binary and coded as chromosomes into three fold: Male use of condom, Female use of condom, and Male and Female use of condom. The coded chromosomes of each category formed set of target values into the simulation of the Genetic algorithm. The simulation revealed that eradication of HIV/AIDS is obtainable in 6 generations with the use of male condom, 4 generations with the use of female condom and 2 generations with the use of both male and female condoms. The study also revealed that 56.4% of the respondents were female, 34.6% were male, 61.23% never used condom and 22.34% used condom all the times. This shows that there is no awareness on the use of female condom in Taraba State and probably the neighbouring states or Nigeria at large. The study recommended, among others, the use of both male and female condoms together as the best measure to achieve HIV/AIDS eradication in finite time.Keywords: Genetic Algorithm, HIV/AIDS transmission, Male and Female Condoms, Soft computing, Taraba StateVol. 26, No. 1, June 2019

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (10) ◽  
pp. 985-990 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mags Beksinska ◽  
Bongiwe Zulu ◽  
Phumla Nkosi ◽  
Zonke Mabude ◽  
Jenni Smit

South Africa (SA) has an integrated male and female condom (FC) programme. Since 2014, the programme has introduced two new FC brands. This study evaluated the early introduction of the availability of new FCs. Twenty-three sites participating in the National SA Female Condom Evaluation were included. Providers and clients completed interviewer-administered questionnaires assessing FC brand availability, length of distribution, how clients are informed about new FCs and reactions to the choice of more than one FC. A total of 55 providers and 51 clients were interviewed. Although all 23 sites reported they had distributed new FCs, only one had all three types available. Almost all providers (96%) thought it was important to increase choice, although some (27%) worried that having different FCs may confuse clients. Almost all clients (96%) felt it was important to increase the choice of FCs, and most women (80%) felt that using one type of FC would make it easy to use another type. Providers called for more brand-specific Information, Education and Communication (IEC) training for themselves and the community. Providers and clients seem to be very positive about the choice of FCs. Providers recommended more support in the form of IEC materials and training to assist in the provision of the expansion of FC brands.


2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (11) ◽  
pp. 2616
Author(s):  
Isabela Querino de Santana ◽  
Yasmin Gabriella Cardoso dos Santos ◽  
Karenina Elice Guimarães Carvalho ◽  
Ednaldo Cavalcante de Araujo

ABSTRACTObjective: to identify the use and the acceptance of the male and female condoms by male students in junior high at a public school. Method: quantitative approach descriptive and explorative study, carried out at a public school in the city of the Recife/PE, Brazil with 50 male adolescent students in middle school. The data collection was carried out by a questionnaire and the data analyzed by the Epi-Info 3.5 software. The research was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of UFPE under protocol No. 191/10. Results: there was predominance of students' with 16 years of age (42%), attending their 2nd year of middle school (46%); they all declared themselves to be heterosexuals (100 %) and, and the majority, single (98%); 70% used the male condom as the only way of preventing STD/aids; television was the primary means of spreading information about preventive methods with 56% of the answers; 90 % had never sexual relation with a female condom; 92% found that acquiring the female condom in pharmacies to be more convenient; the use of the male condom with a girlfriend happened 24% sometimes, and 12% never; they always used it 40% with occasional partners; 30% do not use because of confidence in their partner; 74% acquire male condoms in pharmacies. Conclusion: the results showed varied opinions about the male and female condoms, and showing the ignorance about the female condom, implicating its low acceptance with the investigated individuals. These appeared favorable to the use of the male condoms in sexual relations, nevertheless, this use was not routine, principally in stable relationships, where they stopped using them. Descriptors: teenager; condoms; students; sexually transmittable diseases; health education. RESUMOObjetivo: identificar o uso e a aceitação dos preservativos masculino e feminino por estudantes do sexo masculino do ensino médio de uma escola pública. Método: estudo descritivo e exploratório, de abordagem quantitativa, realizada em uma escola pública da cidade do Recife/PE, com 50 adolescentes do sexo masculino, estudantes do ensino médio. A coleta de dados foi realizada por meio de um questionário e os dados analisados no software Epi-Info 3.5. A pesquisa foi aprovada pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa da UFPE sob protocolo 191/10. Resultados: houve predominância de estudantes com 16 anos de idade (42 %), cursando o 2° ano do ensino médio (46 %); todos se declararam heterossexuais (100%) e, em sua maioria, solteiros (98%); 70% utilizaram o preservativo masculino como única forma de se prevenir contra IST/aids; a televisão foi o principal meio de divulgação de  informações sobre métodos preventivos com 56% das respostas; 90% nunca tiveram relação sexual com o preservativo feminino; 92% acham mais conveniente adquirir o preservativo feminino em farmácias; o uso do preservativo masculino com a namorada realizou-se 24% às vezes, e 12% nunca; 40% o utilizavam sempre com parceiras ocasionais; 30% não utilizam por confiança na parceira; 74% adquirem preservativos masculinos em farmácias.Conclusão: os resultados mostraram opiniões variadas sobre os preservativos masculinos e feminino, e direcionaram para o desconhecimento sobre o preservativo feminino, implicando na sua baixa aceitação por parte dos pesquisados. Estes se mostraram favoráveis ao uso dos preservativos masculinos nas relações sexuais, contudo, essa utilização não foi rotineira, principalmente em relação estável, onde deixaram de utilizá-lo. Descritores: adolescente; preservativos; estudantes; doenças sexualmente transmissíveis; educação em saúde.RESUMENObjetivo: identificar el uso y aceptación de los preservativos masculino y femenino por estudiantes del sexo masculino de la enseñanza secundario de una escuela pública. Método: estudio descriptivo y exploratorio, de abordaje cuantitativo, realizado en una escuela pública de la ciudad de Recife/PE, con cincuenta adolescentes del sexo masculino, estudiantes de enseñanza secundaria. La recogida de datos se realizó por medio de un cuestionario y los datos analizados por el software Epi-Info 3,5. La investigación fue aprobada por el Comité de Ética en Investigación de la UFPE bajo protocolo 191/10. Resultados: hubo predominio de estudiantes de 16 años de edad (42%), cursando el segundo curso de Enseñanza Secundaria (46%); todos se declararon heterosexuales (100%) y en su mayoría solteros (98%); 70% usaron el preservativo masculino como única forma de prevenirse contra Enfermedades de Transmisión Sexual/sida; la televisión fue el principal medio de divulgación de informaciones sobre métodos preventivos con 56% de respuestas; 90% nunca tuvieron relación sexual con preservativo femenino; 92% creen más conveniente adquirir el preservativo femenino en farmacias; el empleo del preservativo masculino con la compañera se realizó el 24% a veces y el 12% nunca. 40% lo utilizaban siempre con compañeras ocasionales; 30% no lo utilizan por confiar en la compañera; el 74% adquieren preservativos masculinos en farmacias. Conclusión: los resultados expresaron opiniones variadas sobre los preservativos masculino y femenino, y señalaron cierto desconocimiento sobre el preservativo femenino, implicando su baja aceptación por parte de los investigados. Estos se mostraron favorables al uso de preservativos masculinos en las relaciones sexuales, aunque esta utilización no fue de rutina, principalmente en el caso de relaciones estables, en las que dejaron de utilizarlo. Descriptores: adolescentes; preservativos; estudiantes; enfermedades sexualmente transmisibles; educación en sanidad.


Author(s):  
Massimo Leone ◽  
Fausto Ciccacci ◽  
Stefano Orlando ◽  
Sandro Petrolati ◽  
Giovanni Guidotti ◽  
...  

Eighty percent of people with stroke live in low- to middle-income nations, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) where stroke has increased by more than 100% in the last decades. More than one-third of all epilepsy−related deaths occur in SSA. HIV infection is a risk factor for neurological disorders, including stroke and epilepsy. The vast majority of the 38 million people living with HIV/AIDS are in SSA, and the burden of neurological disorders in SSA parallels that of HIV/AIDS. Local healthcare systems are weak. Many standalone HIV health centres have become a platform with combined treatment for both HIV and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), as advised by the United Nations. The COVID-19 pandemic is overwhelming the fragile health systems in SSA, and it is feared it will provoke an upsurge of excess deaths due to the disruption of care for chronic diseases such as HIV, TB, hypertension, diabetes, and cerebrovascular disorders. Disease Relief through Excellent and Advanced Means (DREAM) is a health programme active since 2002 to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS and related disorders in 10 SSA countries. DREAM is scaling up management of NCDs, including neurologic disorders such as stroke and epilepsy. We described challenges and solutions to address disruption and excess deaths from these diseases during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth R. Katumba ◽  
Yoko V. Laurence ◽  
Patrick Tenywa ◽  
Joshua Ssebunnya ◽  
Agata Laszewska ◽  
...  

Abstract Background It is rare to find HIV/AIDS care providers in sub-Saharan Africa routinely providing mental health services, yet 8–30% of the people living with HIV have depression. In an ongoing trial to assess integration of collaborative care of depression into routine HIV services in Uganda, we will assess quality of life using the standard EQ-5D-5L, and the capability-based OxCAP-MH which has never been adapted nor used in a low-income setting. We present the results of the translation and validation process for cultural and linguistic appropriateness of the OxCAP-MH tool for people living with HIV/AIDS and depression in Uganda. Methods The translation process used the Concept Elaboration document, the source English version of OxCAP-MH, and the Back-Translation Review template as provided during the user registration process of the OxCAP-MH, and adhered to the Translation and Linguistic Validation process of the OxCAP-MH, which was developed following the international principles of good practice for translation as per the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research’s standards. Results The final official Luganda version of the OxCAP-MH was obtained following a systematic iterative process, and is equivalent to the English version in content, but key concepts were translated to ensure cultural acceptability, feasibility and comprehension by Luganda-speaking people. Conclusion The newly developed Luganda version of the OxCAP-MH can be used both as an alternative or as an addition to health-related quality of life patient-reported outcome measures in research about people living with HIV with comorbid depression, as well as more broadly for mental health research.


2021 ◽  
pp. bmjinnov-2020-000534
Author(s):  
Patricia S Coffey ◽  
Maggie Kilbourne-Brook

ObjectiveThe female condom is a non-hormonal barrier method that can protect from unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections such as HIV. Female condoms are an important contribution to women’s reproductive health globally as they are the only woman-initiated method currently available that can provide dual protection. This article describes how human-centred design (HCD) was applied to the development of the Woman’s Condom—a second-generation female condom.MethodsA multidisciplinary team pioneered the application of HCD principles to develop a novel reproductive health product. The Woman’s Condom design incorporated feedback from both female and male users from multiple sites in the USA and Cuernavaca, Mexico; Durban, South Africa and Khon Kaen, Thailand to inform product development.ResultsWe developed and tested more than 50 design iterations reflecting various solutions to user-related concerns. The final locked design confirmed that the Woman’s Condom was easy to use, stable, comfortable and provided satisfactory sensation during sex for both partners. The ‘dissolving capsule’ to facilitate insertion and ‘soft cling’ design are key innovative features of the Woman’s Condom.ConclusionThe Woman’s Condom is a second-generation female (or internal) condom product that has been shown to be highly acceptable to users throughout the world. The Woman’s Condom’s special design features enable easy insertion, secure fit during use, good sensation and easy removal. Engaging users as codesigners through an HCD approach resulted in a female condom that meets the needs of women and men from diverse regions.


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