Thesis (MPH)--University of Limpopo, 2010. / Introduction: Men living with HIV and AIDS generally do not participate in support groups even though evidence supports their effectiveness as a source of valuable support for people living with HIV and AIDS PLWHA). Study Aim: The aim of the study was to explore reasons for the reluctance of HIV positive men to attend support groups and examine their perceptions and understanding of the benefits of attending support groups for PLWHA Methods: A qualitative descriptive approach was used for this study. A total of five (5) focus group discussions was conducted with HIV positive males receiving ART from Infectious Disease Clinic (IDC) at King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality in Mthatha Data analysis: Thematic content analysis was used to analyse data from the focus groups, using Nvivo8 a qualitative soft ware used for data analysis and coding revealed 10 themes with their sub categories. Findings: Findings of the research indicate that participants perceive support groups as being helpful to PLWHA. Participants have a broad and positive understanding of the benefits of participation in support groups. Reported barriers to participate in support groups included lack of access to support groups in local communities which affected the distance travelled to support groups, inconvenient and awkward timing of the support group sessions and attending mixed gender support groups which was not acceptable for participants. Personal reasons for non participation included fear of potential disclosure of HIV status due to lack of confidentiality in support groups and perception that support from families and friends was adequate. Recommendation: The study recommends the introduction of men only support groups facilitated by male to enhance men’s participation in HIV and AIDS programmes, and thus create an enormous contribution in the curb of the spread of the disease.

Univ., Diss--Münster

The current study explored the health risk of E. coli O157:H7 to diarrhoeic confrimed and non-confirmed HIV/AIDS patients due to their exposure to presumed ingestion of water, meat, meat products and vegetables ostensibly contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. Strains of E. coli O157:H7 were isolated by enrichment culture and on Cefixime-Telurite Sorbitol MacConkey agar. Average counts of presumptive E. coli O157 were used for dose-response assessment.Probability of infection to confrimed and non-confirmedHIV/AIDS patients was 20 and 27 % from meat and meat products, 21% and 15% from vegetables and 100% due to ingestion of 1500ml person day of water. Drinking water had higher probability of transmitting E. coli O157 :H infections than meat and meat products and vegetables.Prabability of E coli O157:H7 infections were high for confrimed HIV/AIDS patients than for non-confirmed patients. Water and foods consumed by HIV/AIDS patients should be safe of any microbial contaminants, these waters and foods should as well be investigated for other enteric pathogens to establish their safety.

No description available.

No description available.

The main aim of the work presented in this thesis was to delineate the natural history and pathogenesis of HIV related heart muscle disease. Additional studies examined the influence of HIV infection on the risk and course of infective endocarditis. Two hundred and ninety-six HIV positive adults were examined by echocardiography in a four year prospective study. Abnormal cardiac function was identified in 14.8%. Dilated cardiomyopathy was present in 4.4% borderline left ventricular dysfunction in 6.4% and isolated right ventricular dysfunction in 4%. Dilated cardiomyopathy was strongly associated with reduced survival compared to those with normal hearts (median survival from diagnosis 101 days, compared to 472 days for those with structurally normal hearts). A newly developed ELISA for anti α-myosin autoantibodies revealed abnormal results in 43% of patients with HIV heart muscle disease, 19% of HIV positive patients with normal hearts and 3% of HIV negative controls. Cardiac specific autoantibodies were also more common in HIV positive patients. Autoimmunity may therefore be important in the pathogenesis of HIV related heart muscle disease. There were no significant socio-economic differences between the HIV positive patients with and without heart disease or the lifestyle matched HIV negative controls studied but mean serum selenium was 33% lower in the HIV positive individuals. Similar differences in toenail (15% lower) and myocardial (17% lower) levels and glutathione peroxidase (15% lower) were also found, but there were no specific differences between patients with and without cardiac abnormalities. Mean α- and γ- tocopherol and α- and β- carotene levels were significantly reduced in our HIV positive patient group, compared to the local HIV negative population, but similar differences existed in a socio-economically matched group of HIV negative drug users. Intravenous drug use was the most important risk factor for the development of the condition.

No description available.

The term, risk-taking, has often been used to describe some of the behaviours and their associated negative outcomes occurring during adloscence. Statistics have shown that South Africa has one of the highest rates of HIV/AIDS infection in the world, with most infections occurring during adolescence. The central aim in this study was to explore the relationship between current constructions of masculinity and risk-taking behaviours among a group of young South African men. It was an exploratory study, focused on exploring how young men construct their masculinities, and how this intersects with or impacts on adolescent male risk-taking behaviours. A key conclusion drawn at the end of this project was that some traditional notions of manhood still held sway, and these tied in strongly with how these participants constructed their masculinity.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2001. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Magister Artium - MA / The term, risk-taking, has often been used to describe some of the behaviours and their associated negative outcomes occurring during adloscence. Statistics have shown that South Africa has one of the highest rates of HIV/AIDS infection in the world, with most infections occurring during adolescence. The central aim in this study was to explore the relationship between current constructions of masculinity and risk-taking behaviours among a group of young South African men. It was an exploratory study, focused on exploring how young men construct their masculinities, and how this intersects with or impacts on adolescent male risk-taking behaviours. A key conclusion drawn at the end of this project was that some traditional notions of manhood still held sway, and these tied in strongly with how these participants constructed their masculinity. / South Africa