Orientador: Pablo Agustin Vargas / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-16T16:11:10Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Gondak_RogeriodeOliveira_M.pdf: 4633053 bytes, checksum: caf2bde22b30d4aa164517dc0dd6ffaf (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010 / Resumo: A língua de pacientes com AIDS é acometida freqüentemente por infecções oportunistas e neoplasias. O objetivo deste estudo foi quantificar as células de Langerhans (CL) presentes em regiões lesionais e não lesionais na língua de pacientes autopsiados com AIDS em fase avançada, correlacionando a diminuição das CL com a presença de patologias infecciosas em diferentes regiões da língua (anterior, média, posterior e lateral) e comparar estes achados com a língua de pacientes HIV negativos. Foram utilizadas neste trabalho as línguas de 40 pacientes autopsiados com AIDS divididos em 04 grupos (10 com candidose lingual, 10 com herpes lingual, 10 com leucoplasia pilosa oral e 10 sem lesões em língua) e as línguas de 23 pacientes autopsiados (grupo controle) que morreram por outras patologias não associadas à AIDS e que não apresentaram patologias em língua. Realizamos estudo imunoistoquímico com os marcadores HLA-DR, CD1a e CD83 para identificar as CL e quantificá-las por meio de análise histomorfométrica. O índice de positividade foi obtido através da leitura de 7 campos seqüenciados orientados por ocular micrométrica. As células positivas foram contadas para cada um dos anticorpos nas quatro diferentes regiões da língua e os resultados expressos em células positivas por área de epitélio e por comprimento de membrana basal. O anticorpo HLA-DR mostrou a presença média das CL na língua dos pacientes com AIDS (LA=24,28/mm2 e 3,64/mm, LM=24,60/mm2 e 3,68/mm, LP=20,95/mm2 e 3,14/mm, LL=19,84/mm2 e 2,97/mm) e no grupo controle (LA=68,18/mm2 e 10,23/mm, LM=60,73/mm2 e 9,11/mm, LP=62,94/mm2 e 9,44/mm, LL=50,24/mm2 e 7,53/mm). O anticorpo CD1a mostrou a presença média das CL na língua dos pacientes com AIDS (LA=17,30/mm2 e 2,59/mm, LM=21,11/mm2 e 3,16/mm, LP=13,48/mm2 e 2,02/mm, LL=15,55/mm2 e 2,33/mm) e no grupo controle (LA=205,38/mm2 e 30,81/mm, LM=218,36/mm2 e 32,75/mm, LP=167,29/mm2 e 25,09/mm, LL=223,60/mm2 e 33,54/mm). O anticorpo CD83 mostrou a presença média das CL na língua dos pacientes com AIDS (LA=6,19/mm2 e 0,92/mm, LM=6,34/mm2 e 0,95/mm, LP=6,82/mm2 e 1,02/mm, LL=7,14/mm2 e 1,07/mm) e no grupo controle 68,18/mm2 e 10,23/mm, LM=68,46/mm2 e 10,27/mm, LP=69,28/mm2 e 10,39/mm, LL=63,49/mm2 e 9,52/mm), sendo que foram extremamente significantes as diferenças entre ambos os grupos em todas as regiões e anticorpos estudados (p<0,001). Portanto, podemos concluir que as CL estavam degeneradas e diminuídas em número em todas as regiões da língua e em todos os grupos com AIDS em relação ao grupo controle e as lesões infecciosas orais oportunistas não influenciaram na depleção das CL nas línguas / Abstract: The tongues of AIDS patients can be affected by opportunistic infections and neoplasms. Objectives: to quantify and compare the expression of Langerhans cells (LC) in lesional and non lesional areas in the tongue from patients with and without AIDS (control group), using autopsy material. Methods: we analysed the expression of CD1a, HLA-DR and CD83 using immunohistochemistry to identify and quantify LC in the tongues of AIDS patients (n=40), which were divided into 04 groups (10 lingual candidiasis, 10 lingual herpes, 10 oral hairy leukoplakia and 10 none lesions), and 23 tongues from HIV-negative controls. The immunoreactivity rate was obtained after reading at least seven fields sequenced driven ocular micrometer. The positive LC were detected in the lingual surface epithelium in four different regions (anterior, middle, posterior and lateral) and the results expressed as positive cells per area of epithelium and basement membrane length. Results: LC showed the following immunoreactivity for CD1a in the tongue of AIDS patients (LA=17.30/mm2 and 2.59/mm, LM=21.11/mm2 and 3.16/mm, LP=13.48/mm2 and 2.02/mm, LL=15.55/mm2 and 2.33/mm), and in the control group (LA=205.38/mm2 and 30.81/mm, LM=218.36/mm2 and 32.75/mm, LP=167.29/mm2 and 25.09/mm, LL=223.60/mm2 and 33.54/mm); HLA-DR (AIDS patients) (LA=24.28/mm2 and 3.64/mm, LM=24.60/mm2 and 3.68/mm, LP=20.95/mm2 and 3.14/mm, LL=19.84/mm2 and 2.97/mm), and the control group (LA=68.18/mm2 and 10.23/mm, LM=60.73/mm2 and 9.11/mm, LP=62.94/mm2 and 9.44/mm, LL=50.24/mm2 and 7.53/mm); CD83 (AIDS patients) (LA=6.19/mm2 and 0.92/mm, LM=6.34/mm2 and 0.95/mm, LP=6.82/mm2 and 1.02/mm, LL=7.14/mm2 and 1.07/mm), and the control group (LA=68.18/mm2 and 10.23/mm, LM=68.46/mm2 and 10.27/mm, LP=69.28/mm2 and 10.39/mm, LL=63.49/mm2 and 9.52/mm). The statistical analysis identified significant differences in the both groups and in all regions, and among the 3 antibodies (p<0.001). Conclusions: LC were degenerated and reduced in number in all regions of the tongue of AIDS patients in relation to the control group and the depletion of LC in the tongues of AIDS patients is not associated with oral opportunistic infections / Mestrado / Patologia / Mestre em Estomatopatologia

A histoplasmose à uma das micoses sistÃmicas oportunistas mais associada à aids na atualidade no Brasil e no mundo. O Cearà à o estado do Brasil com a maior casuÃstica na Ãltima dÃcada da coinfecÃÃo HD/aids. O objetivo deste estudo foi caracterizar a morbimortalidade e sobrevida de pacientes com coinfecÃÃo HD/aids, apÃs o 1 evento de HD,atendidos em unidades de referÃncia para HIV/aids em Fortaleza/CearÃ. Realizou-se uma coorte retrospectiva de pacientes com coinfecÃÃo HD/aids, tendo o 1 episÃdio de HD ocorrido no perÃodo de 2002-2008. Os dados foram coletadas a partir do diagnÃstico de HD atà 31/12/2010. AnÃlise estatÃstica foi realizada por meio do programa STATA 9.0. Foram incluÃdos no estudo 145 pacientes. A maioria era de adultos jovens, com mÃdia de idade de 34,6 anos (IC 95%= 33,2-36,0), do sexo masculino (83,5%), e sem atividade de risco definida para histoplasmose (80%). A prevalÃncia da coinfecÃÃo foi de 38 casos/ano. HD foi 1 infecÃÃo oportunista definidora de aids em 59% dos pacientes. Anfotericina B foi utilizada em 97% dos pacientes como droga de induÃÃo, e itraconazol em 92%, em dose de manutenÃÃo. O tempo mÃdio de seguimento clÃnico foi de 3,38 anos (dp = 2,2; IC 95% = 3,01-3,75); 55,2% dos pacientes necessitaram de novos internamentos; 23,3% apresentaram recidiva da histoplasmose; 31,4% interromperam o uso de antifÃngicos conforme orientaÃÃo mÃdica. A mÃdia do acompanhamento apÃs a interrupÃÃo foi de 2,85 anos (IC 95% = 2,24-3,46). Somente um paciente recidivou apÃs a interrupÃÃo do antifÃngico. Os fatores riscos relacionados à recidiva foram nÃo adesÃo à TARV (p = 0,000), uso irregular de antifÃngico (p= 0,000), nÃo recuperaÃÃo do CD4+ (p = 0,000) e ter aids antes do diagnÃstico de HD (p =0,025). Somente nÃo adesÃo à TARV (OR = 4,96; IC 95% = 1,26-30,10; p = 0,026) foi fator de risco independente para recidiva. Aos 60 meses a probabilidade de remissÃo foi de 67%(IC 95%= 55% -76%). AdesÃo à TARV (94% vs. 51% - p = 0,000), uso regular de antifÃngico (87% vs. 48% - p = 0,000), recuperaÃÃo do CD4+ (83% vs. 45% - p = 0,000) e nÃo ter aids antes da HD (76% vs. 55% - p = 0,035) foram os principais fatores que contribuÃram para manutenÃÃo da remissÃo. Ãbito ocorreu em 30,2% dos pacientes; os fatores relacionados à mortalidade foram nÃo adesÃo ao tratamento da aids (p = 0,000), uso irregular de antifÃngico (p = 0,000), nÃo recuperaÃÃo do CD4+ (p = 0,000), ter tido um novo episÃdio de histoplasmose (p = 0,000) e ter aids antes da HD (p = 0,009). NÃo adesÃo à TARV foi o Ãnico fator de risco independente associado à mortalidade na anÃlise multivariada (OR = 5,24; IC 95% = 1,28-21,38; p = 0,021). A sobrevida aos 60 meses foi de 68% (IC 95% = 57%-76%). Pacientes com adesÃo à TARV (92% vs. 54% - p = 0,000) e sem episÃdio de recidiva (77%vs. 32% - p = 0,000), tiveram melhor probabilidade de sobrevida. Uso regular de antifÃngico (84% vs. 50% - p = 0,000) , ter tido recuperaÃÃo do CD4+ (89% vs. 54% - p = 0,000) e nÃo ter tido aids antes da HD (75% vs. 57% - p = 0,021) tambÃm foram fatores associados a uma melhor sobrevida. Portanto, verificou-se nesse estudo, elevada prevalÃncia de HD em pacientes com aids nessa regiÃo do Brasil, com altas taxas de recidiva e Ãbito. AdesÃo à TARV foi o Ãnico fator de risco independente associado aos desfechos, recidiva e Ãbito. A melhor sobrevida ocorreu em pacientes aderentes à TARV / Histoplasmosis is one of the most opportunistic systemic mycoses associated with AIDS today in Brazil and worldwide. Cearà is the state of Brazil with the largest case in the last decade this co-infection. The objective of this study was to characterize the survival and morbimortality of patients with co-infection HD/AIDS after the 1st HD event, served in in units of a reference for HIV/AIDS in Fortaleza/CearÃ. Retrospective cohort study of patients with co-infection HD/AIDS, when the first HD episode occurred between 2002-2008. The data were collected from the diagnosis of HD until 12/31/2010. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA 9.0 program. The study included 145 patients. The majority were young adults with median age of 34.6 years (95%CI = 33.2-36.0), males (83.5%) and without risk activity associated with histoplasmosis (80%). The prevalence of co-infection was of 38 cases/year. HD was first defining opportunistic infection of AIDS in 59% of the patients. Amphotericin B was used in 97% of patients as induction drug and itraconazole in 92% on maintenance dose. The average clinical follow-up was 3.38 years (sd=2.2,95%CI= 3.01 to 3.75); 55.2% of patients needed for new admissions; 23.3% presented relapse of histoplasmosis; 31.4% discontinued the use of antifungal as medical advice. The average follow-up after the interruption was 2.85 years (95%CI= 2.24 to 3.46). Only one patient relapsed after stopping the antifungal. Risk factors related to relapse were not adhering to ART (p 0.000), irregular use of antifungal (e.g. 0.000), non-recovery of CD4 (p 0.000) and have AIDS before diagnosis of HD (0.025). Non-adherence to ART (OR 4.96; 95% CI = 1.26- 30.10; p = 0.026) was the only independent risk factor for relapse. To 60 months the likelihood of remission was 67% (95%IC = 55% -76%). Join the ART (94% vs. 51% - p = 0.000), regular use of antifungal (87vs. 48 - p = 0.000), recovery of CD4+ (83% vs. 45% â p =0.000) and not having AIDS before the HD (76% vs.55% - p = 0.035) were the main factors that contributed to maintenance of remission. Death occurred in 30.2% of patients; mortalityrelated factors were not adherence to treatment of aids (p = 0.000), irregular use of antifungal medication (p = 0.000), non-recovery of CD4+ (p = 0.000), have had a new episode of histoplasmosis (p = 0.000) and have AIDS before the HD (p = 0.009). Patients with adherence to ART (92% vs. 54% - p = 0,000) and without relapse episode (77% vs. 32% - p = 0,000), had better chances of survival. Regular use of secondary prophylaxis as a maintenance therapy in HD was a factor associated with lower probability of progression to death (p=0.000). The survival at 60 months was of 68% (95%CI = 57%-76%). Regular use of antifungal (84% vs. 50% - p = 0.000), have had CD4+ recovery (89% vs. 54% - p = 0.000)and not have had AIDS before the HD (75% vs. 57% - p = 0.021) also were factors associated with better survival. Therefore, it was found in this study, high prevalence of HD in patients with AIDS in this region of Brazil, with high rates of relapse and death. Join the ART was the only independent risk factor associated with outcomes, relapse and death. The best survival occurred in patients adhering to ART.

Abstract Systematic analyses of infections in critical illness are sparse and mostly restricted to specific infection categories. Thus, a prospective study was carried out in a medical-surgical ICU during 14 months on patients whose ICU stay was longer than 48 h. The prospectively gathered data included detailed patient history, infection survey, severity of illness scores (APACHE II, SOFA), resource use, short-term and long-term outcome and quality of life following hospital discharge. Altogether 335 patients were included, of whom 251 (74.9%) had an infection on admission; 59.3% had a community-acquired infection (CAI) and 40.7% a hospital-acquired infection (HAI), while 84 (25.1%) did not have any infection (NI). APACHE II scores and ICU or hospital mortality rates did not differ between the groups. The median hospital stay was longer in the HAI than in the CAI or NI groups. Eighty (23.9%) of the 335 patients developed an ICU-acquired infection (48 per 1000 patient days): ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in 33.8% of the cases, central catheter-related (CRI) or primary bloodstream infections in 6.3% and urinary tract infections in 1.3%, while the corresponding device-related incidences per 1000 days were 18.8, 2.2 and 0.5, respectively. ICU-acquired infection was an independent risk factor for hospital mortality. It doubled the risk for hospital mortality in patients with an infection on admission and caused a threefold the risk in patients without an infection on admission and an almost fourfold increase in the use of nursing resources. Of the 272 hospital survivors, 83 (30.5%) died after discharge during the median follow-up of 17 weeks. Infection status on admission or during the ICU stay did not affect long-term mortality. ICU-acquired infection did not have an impact on patients' quality of life. The current general level of health compared to the status before ICU admission did not differ between the groups, either. Only 36% of those employed resumed their previous jobs. Three-fourths of patients had an infection on admission, while nearly one fourth acquired an ICU infection. The high VAP rate suggests a need for re-evaluation of preventive measures, whereas the low CRI indicates more successful prevention. ICU-acquired infection was a significant risk factor for hospital mortality, but did not affect patients' long-term survival or quality of life.

For pianists working within the western art music tradition, the ability to perform a large and complex repertoire from memory is almost a prerequisite for a successful career. Memorising and maintaining this repertoire requires considerable practice and can lead to physical overuse syndromes. Additionally, automated motor memory developed via physical practice is not always sufficient for secure recall, often leading to performance anxiety. It is important therefore for professionals to identify optimal practice strategies, and mental rehearsal has been widely advocated as a potential means of enhancing memorisation and performance fluency while at the same time avoiding physical overuse. The results of three studies that examined mental imagery rehearsal by expert pianists, adopting a mixed methods approach, are presented in this thesis. The first was a participant observation study of a course at which eleven advanced pianists learned to use a memorisation technique incorporating deliberate imagery; the study aimed to describe the teaching and learning of specific imagery techniques and to examine the potential advantages and drawbacks of this approach. The second study was an online questionnaire survey of thirty six piano students at UK conservatoires designed to investigate the teaching and implementation of mental rehearsal techniques at advanced training levels; the survey found that despite a widespread awareness of imagery rehearsal as a potentially effective strategy, training in specific techniques was not consistently available, and recommended mental practice strategies were adopted much less consistently than strategies involving physical practice. Finally, an fMRI study of fourteen expert pianists aimed to determine the neural correlates of imagery rehearsal and simulated piano playing. Differences observed in brain activation between tasks suggested increased involvement of working memory processes during mental imagery. The thesis concludes that mental imagery rehearsal techniques are acquired skills that can be taught and improved over time and which have specific advantages over motor learning, but that more pedagogical training is needed in order for these techniques to become fully effective and widely adopted.

Master of Public Health - MPH / For more than two decades now, the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and its etiological agent, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), has been a growing challenge that affects all segments of the global population. Voluntary HIV counseling and testing (VCT) is one of the many prevention and control strategies adopted globally and by the Government of the Republic of Zambia. VCT is the process by which an individual undergoes counseling to enable him/her to make an informed choice about being tested for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This decision must be entirely the choice of the individual and he or she must be assured that the process will be confidential. VCT is a key component of both HIV prevention and care programs. Although VCT is increasingly available in Zambia through public health facilities, VCT only or stand-alone sites and mobile counseling and testing services, there is still great reluctance among many people to be tested. Aim: This study explored factors affecting the utilization of VCT services in Mwense District, Zambia. Methodology: An explorative, qualitative study was conducted. Data was collected through focus group discussions with community members, and key informant interviews with lay counselors and health care workers. Thematic analysis of transcribed data was done to elucidate knowledge and awareness of HIV/AIDS and VCT services, factors facilitating uptake and barriers to utilization of VCT services and suggestions for improving VCT uptake. Results: The study found that HIV/AIDS was recognized as a major problem in the communities and that participants were aware of the availability and benefits of HIV counseling and testing services. The main reasons for seeking an HIV test included facilitating sexual behavior change to avoid infection, re-infection or infecting others with HIV. Facilitators to uptake of VCT services include accessing information on HIV/AIDS and other care and support services such as prevention of mother to child interventions, peer and social support systems, home-based care and early treatment with antiretroviral therapy if one is HIV positive. Community members indicated that VCT was an entry point to reaching out to the family and community for on-going counseling, which would lead to reduction in HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination. Several barriers to VCT were identified by the participants. At individual level, barriers included: the fear of the ramifications of a positive test; fear of HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination; doubt about the existence of HIV and AIDS; and fear of loss of control of life circumstances and destiny. Health facility level barriers included concerns about confidentiality of HIV-test results, familiarity with service providers, lack of promotional activities of the VCT services, shortage of testing logistics and commodities, and human resource shortages both in terms of numbers and confidence to promote VCT services. Community levels barriers included cultural beliefs and customs, gender imbalances, religious beliefs and stigma. Conclusions: There is urgent need for community sensitization about VCT and its benefits in HIV/AIDS control.

Magister Artium (Social Work) - MA(SW) / Botswana is experiencing high levels of HIV prevalence rate at 16.9% among the general population, 4.5% among adolescents aged 10-14 and 4.7% among adolescents aged 14-19. Adolescents are in a critically stage between childhood and adulthood and undergo a lot of developmental changes physically, sychologically and emotionally. The scourge of HIV/AIDS has also brought with it multiple challenges to adolescents as those who are HIV positive have to adhere to all the health requirements of being HIV positive and at the same time being pressurised by the societal expectations. Stigmatisation and discrimination are experienced as barriers against the fight towards HIV which is seen a major factor among adolescents. The aim of the study was to explore and describe adolescents’ perceptions and experiences of anti-retroviral therapy at a tertiary hospital in Francistown, Botswana. The study followed a qualitative research approach with an exploratory descriptive research design. Purposive sampling was used to recruit participants. Participants were school going adolescents aged between 13 and 19 years, who are on antiretroviral therapy and going for reviews at a tertiary hospital in Francistown, Botswana. Data were gathered though face to face semi structured interviews with each of the 24 participants. Data were analysed thematically. The following four themes emerged during the analysis: i. “ARVs control but don’t cure”; ii. “Why did it happen to me?-the reality of using ARVs”; iii. “I don’t want to take them for the rest of my life”; and iv. “No man is an island”, which addressed the research objectives. The findings led to the conclusion that, despite the fact that HIV has been around for over two decades and ARVs has been around for more than a decade, adolescents living with HIV still faces challenges such as stigmatisation due to social as well as clinical factors and adjusting to a lifelong treatment which made it difficult for them to adhere to their treatment. However, adolescents are happy as they are living a healthy and a fruitful life as a result of the ARVs. Ethical considerations were adhered too. Furthermore the findings of the study could assist the Ministries of Health, Education, Local Government and Rural Development to address these challenges experienced by the adolescents in the development of social programmes to improve the livelihood of the adolescents living with HIV/AIDS.

Objective: The main objective of this study was to detect the presence of 14 respiratory viruses and atypical bacteria (Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia pneumoniae), via polymerase chain reaction in patients under 18 years old hospitalized due to community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) from Lima, Peru. Results: Atypical pathogens were detected in 40% (58/146); viral etiologies in 36% (52/146) and coinfections in 19% (27/146). The most common etiological agent was M. pneumoniae (n = 47), followed by C. pneumoniae (n = 11). The most frequent respiratory viruses detected were: respiratory syncytial virus A (n = 35), influenza virus C (n = 21) and parainfluenza virus (n = 10). Viral-bacterial and bacterium-bacterium coinfections were found in 27 cases. In our study population, atypical bacteria (40%) were detected as frequently as respiratory viruses (36%). The presence of M. pneumoniae and C. pneumoniae should not be underestimated as they can be commonly isolated in Peruvian children with CAP.

RNA interference (RNAi) is widely used to specifically silence the expression of any gene to study its function and to identify and validate therapeutic targets. Despite the popularity of this technology, recent studies have shown that RNAi may also silence non-targeted genes. Here we demonstrate the utility of a quick, efficient and robust approach to directly validate the specificity of RNAi as an alternative to indirect validation of RNAi through gene expression profiling. Our approach involves reversing (complementing) the RNAi-induced phenotype by introducing a synthetic version of the target gene that is designed to escape silencing. This synthetic gene complementation approach can also be used for mutational analysis of the target gene, or to provide a functional version of a defective protein after silencing the defective gene by RNAi. Using this approach we demonstrate that the loss of systemic acquired resistance, a form of innate immunity in plants, is indeed due to the silencing of salicylic acid-binding protein 2 rather than to off-target effects.

Title: Vietnamese nursing students’ knowledge and attitudes to hospital-acquired infections and hygiene guidelines. Background: Increased hospital-acquired infections are a global concern. Compliance to hygiene guidelines is essential to prevent infections in health care. Knowledge and attitudes are important factors that affect implementations of precautions in health care. Aim: The aim of this study was to describe the knowledge and attitudes of Vietnamese nursing students’ in year 2, 3 and 4 regarding hospital-acquired infections and hygiene guidelines. Method: An empirical cross-sectional study were 2 questionnaires with set responses was answered by 235 nursing students at a Vietnamese university. Result: The result showed that the students’ knowledge was overall at a moderate level. The 3rd year students reported best amount of knowledge, 2nd year the next best and 4th year students reported the lowest. Students’ attitudes regarding hand hygiene were mostly positive. Questions students reported negative attitudes into were regarded priorities due to lack of time and resources, the effort of remember hand hygiene actions and comfort in reminding other health care workers. Students in 4th year were the ones with the least positive attitudes while year 2 and 3 were more equal. Conclusion: The scores on the hand hygiene (HH) knowledge test improved from year 2 to year 3 but decreased in year 4. The amount of positive attitudes in the subject was equal in year 2 and 3 but less positive in year 4. This indicates that infection control training needs to be ongoing during all the education. We also think it should be highlighted to clinical supervisors and other HCWs that they have a responsibility to emphasize the importance of hand hygiene when teaching future nurses.

This descriptive study aimed to determine the knowledge, attitudes and practices about AIDS among Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD} clinic attenders in the Cape Peninsula. A questionnaire containing open and closed questions in the appropriate language (English, Afrikaans or Xhosa) was administered by trained clinic staff to 306 patients in 9 of the 29 STD Clinics in the region. The study was requested by the local authorities to initiate and improve AIDS education programmes within the STD clinics. 306 patients were interviewed in 9 clinics. The median age of attenders was 25 years. The median period of residence in the peninsula was 7 years. Knowledge of AIDS is reasonably good when tested by true/false questions but much worse when tested by open questions. Knowledge bears little relationship to practice. There is inadequate awareness of the asymptomatic carrier state, the incurability of AIDS and ways to prevent AIDS. Sexual practice is high risk. Condom use is extremely low especially in the African areas where only 9,6% used a condom in the past year. Prostitution is perceived to be a common occurrence in attenders' communities. There is a low perception of risk to self. The most important beliefs militating against condom use are that they are unacceptable to partners and peer group. More information about AIDS was requested by 90% of patients and a strong preference was expressed for programmes to be conducted in the patient's home language. This study supports the urgent need for an AIDS education and counselling programmes for patients with STD's in the region. Recommendations include the need to address the emotions, attitudes and beliefs that affect behaviour as well as to convey knowledge. Condom acceptability poses a major problem that will need to be addressed. Patients with STDs represent an extremely important core group for HIV transmission to others in the community and need specific attention and resources.