1,720,957 research outputs found
A comparative study of students' attitudes, preferences and acceptance levels towards microbicide products : the tenofovir gel and the dapivirine ring at UKZN.
Full text linkM. Soc. Sc. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 2015.Despite vast efforts to curb HIV and AIDS, the global epidemic has evolved over the past three decades, with Southern Africa1 proving to be the epicentre of the epidemic. Unlike women in other parts of the world, statistics show that African women are disproportionately vulnerable to HIV infection, with women between the ages of 15 to 24 twice more likely to be infected then men in Southern Africa. Female vulnerability to HIV infection is exacerbated by various factors including social, cultural, economic and biological factors.
Microbicides are biomedical technologies that are designed to give women some degree of control in prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. Microbicides refer to antiretroviral-based substances: they are biomedical tools which could empower women who cannot negotiate safe sex practices and as such, they have the potential to change the landscape of the HIV and AIDS pandemic. However, there are no microbicide products that have been licenced and made available for women to use as they are still undergoing clinical trials. There is a dearth of research of female perceptions, attitudes and possible acceptance levels of microbicides as HIV prevention methods.
This dissertation provides a small-scale comparative study of two microbicide products; the tenofovir gel and dapivirine ring. This study investigates UKZN female students’ perceptions, attitudes and acceptance levels towards microbicides as HIV prevention methods. By employing a culture-centred approach, this dissertation seeks to reach a holistic understanding of female students’ preferences towards HIV prevention methods for the purpose of knowing what potential users of microbicides desire and need. A mixed method approach formed the methodological basis of this research study: two focus group discussions with UKZN female students were conducted, and 100 self-administered questionnaires were used to collect data. Thematic analysis was used to develop themes that emerged from the data collected.
Key findings from the questionnaire revealed that a high percentage (62%) of female students asserted that they would use microbicides if they were available as HIV prevention methods; 66% of the female respondents stipulated that they would prefer using the tenofovir gel as opposed to the dapivirine ring. Female students indicated that microbicides must be available in other forms. It was concluded that the formulation in which microbicides are developed is important: product characteristic will influence acceptability of the products as well as adherence. Cultural issues will impact the acceptance and uptake of microbicides. It was also discovered that male involvement in microbicide development might foster better acceptance and uptake of these biomedical tools
An exploration of the social-cultural factors that influence oral pre-exposure prophylaxis uptake and integration into sexual and reproductive healthcare services for young women in KwaZulu-Natal.
Full text linkDoctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.In the past, HIV prevention efforts have disappointingly focused on reducing individual risk, with insufficient attention to socio-cultural, economic, structural, and other contextual factors that increase vulnerability to HIV. However, public health efforts towards HIV prevention now focus on combination strategies. This strategy recognizes that the integration of biomedical, social and structural interventions in mitigating the HIV and AIDS epidemic will translate to population-level impact. In Southern Africa, young women are disproportionately vulnerable to HIV infection, with women between the ages of 15 to 24 twice more likely to be infected than men. However, the licensure of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and the South African National Department of Health policy on the integration of oral PrEP in sexual reproductive health (SRH) services creates renewed hope for young women who are often unable to negotiate safe sex practices.
Nevertheless, the effectiveness of biomedical technologies is influenced by socio-cultural, structural and economic factors. This underscores the need to understand; (a) Populations that will consider using oral PrEP, (b) The likely socio-cultural challenges or opportunities that will influence acceptance, uptake and adherence of oral PrEP, and (c) How to integrate oral PrEP in already existing SRH services in a manner that ensures optimal adherence to oral PrEP to key population groups. This study sought to find effective ways in which oral PrEP can be integrated into SRH services in South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).
To attain an in-depth understanding of this topic, participatory visual methodologies in the form of journey mapping workshops and one-on-one interviews with 15 young women taking oral PrEP were facilitated. The participatory approach to this inquiry created an enabling space for young women to engage in dialogue about oral PrEP. Young women need to be placed at the centre of the response to HIV and AIDS in a meaningful way that will facilitate sustainable interventions in the fight against HIV and AIDS. Two nurses from both research sites were also interviewed to yield healthcare providers perspectives into the study inquiry. The study has the potential to inform policymakers on how existing SRH services can be improved to multi-dimensional systems that support oral PrEP uptake and adherence by young women at high risk of HIV. Findings of this study support the conclusion that oral PrEP needs to be integrated into already existing SRH services in ways that are context-specific and culturally relevant for communities. The young women in this study explicitly shared the various social and cultural factors that will influence them accessing oral PrEP in SRH services within their local clinics. Issues related to the structure, services offered and healthcare provider’s attitudes will affect acceptance, uptake and adherence of oral PrEP by young women in rural and urban KZN communities
De la política a la práctica: acceso de las adolescentes y mujeres jóvenes a los servicios de salud sexual y reproductiva mediante la Política Integrada de Salud Escolar en KwaZulu-Natal, Sudáfrica
No full textIntroduction: Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in South Africa continue to experience poor sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes, such as early and unintended pregnancies, and sexually transmitted infections. The Integrated School Health Policy (ISHP) aims to enhance the health and well-being of school-going AGYW by promoting SRH and providing services. This study examined the implementation of SRH services for school-going adolescent girls within KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Methods: A qualitative research design was employed, gathering triangulated data from six focus group discussions (FGDs) with school-going AGYW (n=54), key informant interviews (KIIs) with learner support agents (n=3), a school-based support team member, district-based support team members (N=8), and provincial-level ISHP stakeholders (n=2). All FGDs and KIIs were audio-recorded, transcribed, and thematically analysed.
Results: Our findings highlight several upstream challenges in providing SRH services for school-going AGYW. Gatekeeping from school governing bodies and difficulties in obtaining parental consent were identified as key obstacles for promoting SRH and providing contraceptive services. Additionally, cultural norms that supported early adolescent pregnancies among learners were reported to be a key challenge. Psychosocial support remains inadequate, particularly for young women who have experienced sexual violence and/or are adolescent mothers. Delivering age-appropriate sexuality education remains a challenge in South African schools because of the age disparities within the same school grades.
Conclusions: Policies and the provision of SRH services need to be responsive to cultural norms, which may be at odds with a rights-based approach to the provision of SRH services. Parents and school governing bodies need to be meaningfully engaged through awareness-raising efforts and education on the short and long-term benefits of SRH support for learners.Introducción: Las adolescentes y mujeres jóvenes (AMJ) de Sudáfrica siguen enfrentando resultados desfavorables en salud sexual y reproductiva (SSR), como embarazos tempranos y no intencionados e infecciones de transmisión sexual. La Política Integrada de Salud Escolar (PISE) busca mejorar la salud y el bienestar de las AMJ escolarizadas promoviendo la SSR y ofreciendo servicios. Este estudio examinó la implementación de servicios de SSR para adolescentes escolarizadas en KwaZulu-Natal, Sudáfrica.
Métodos: Se empleó un diseño cualitativo, recopilando datos triangulados de seis grupos focales (GFs) con AMJ escolarizadas (n=54); entrevistas a informantes clave (EIC) con agentes de apoyo al alumnado (n=3); un miembro del equipo de apoyo escolar; miembros de equipos de apoyo distrital (N=8); y actores del ISHP a nivel provincial (n=2). Todos los GFs y EIC fueron grabadas en audio, transcritas y analizadas temáticamente.
Resultados: Identificamos varios desafíos “aguas arriba” en la provisión de servicios de SSR para AMJ escolarizadas. El control del acceso por parte de los órganos de gobierno escolar y las dificultades para obtener consentimiento parental fueron obstáculos clave para promover la SSR y brindar anticoncepción. Además, se reportaron normas culturales que favorecen los embarazos tempranos como un reto central. El apoyo psicosocial sigue siendo insuficiente, especialmente para jóvenes que han sufrido violencia sexual y/o son madres adolescentes. Impartir educación sexual adecuada a la edad sigue siendo un desafío por las disparidades de edad dentro de un mismo grado.
Conclusiones: Las políticas y la provisión de servicios de SSR deben ser sensibles a normas culturales que pueden entrar en tensión con un enfoque de derechos. Es necesario involucrar de forma significativa a padres/madres y los órganos de gobierno escolar mediante sensibilización y educación sobre los beneficios, a corto y largo plazo, del apoyo en SSR para las y los estudiantes
From policy to practice : Implementation of the Integrated School Health Policy and the provision of sexual and reproductive health services for adolescent girls in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
No full textIntroduction: Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in South Africa continue to experience poor sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes, such as early and unintended pregnancies, and sexually transmitted infections. The Integrated School Health Policy (ISHP) aims to enhance the health and well-being of school-going AGYW by promoting SRH and providing services. This study examined the implementation of SRH services for school-going adolescent girls within KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Methods: A qualitative research design was employed, gathering triangulated data from six focus group discussions (FGDs) with school-going AGYW (n=54), key informant interviews (KIIs) with learner support agents (n=3), a school-based support team member, district-based support team members (N=8), and provincial-level ISHP stakeholders (n=2). All FGDs and KIIs were audio-recorded, transcribed, and thematically analysed. Results: Our findings highlight several upstream challenges in providing SRH services for school-going AGYW. Gatekeeping from school governing bodies and difficulties in obtaining parental consent were identified as key obstacles for promoting SRH and providing contraceptive services. Additionally, cultural norms that supported early adolescent pregnancies among learners were reported to be a key challenge. Psychosocial support remains inadequate, particularly for young women who have experienced sexual violence and/or are adolescent mothers. Delivering age-appropriate sexuality education remains a challenge in South African schools because of the age disparities within the same school grades. Conclusions: Policies and the provision of SRH services need to be responsive to cultural norms, which may be at odds with a rights-based approach to the provision of SRH services. Parents and school governing bodies need to be meaningfully engaged through awareness-raising efforts and education on the short and long-term benefits of SRH support for learners
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
Dispelling the Myths Behind First-author Citation Counts
Full text linkWe conducted a full-scale evaluative citation analysis study of scholars in the XML research field to explore just how different from each other author rankings resulting from different citation counting methods actually are, and to demonstrate the capability of emerging data and tools on the Web in supporting more realistic citation counting methods. Our results contest some common arguments for the continued
use of first-author citation counts in the evaluation of scholars, such as high correlations between author rankings by first-author citation counts and other citation
counting methods, and high costs of using more realistic citation counting methods that are not well-supported by the ISI databases. It is argued that increasingly available digital full text research papers make it possible for citation analysis studies to go beyond what the ISI databases have directly supported and to employ more
sophisticated methods
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