Background Adult females recently diagnosed HIV positive fall pregnant soon after diagnosis in John Taolo Gaetsewe Health District. They usually claim ignorant of or say they forgot to take their pills and that lead to their getting pregnant. Considering the health implication of pregnancy on the general health outlook of HIV positive females and risk of mother to child transmission of HIV, that motivated this study. Aim and Objectives To study the contraceptive knowledge, attitude and practices amongst adult HIV positive females in John Taolo Gaetsewe Health District. The objectives are; 1. To evaluate contraceptive knowledge, perceptions and practices amongst patients presenting for contraception 2. To find out the reasons for use and non use of contraceptives by patients 3. To determine choices of contraceptive methods, use of emmergency contraception and barrier contraception such as condoms. Methods Study design: A cross sectional descriptive study focused on determining the contraceptive knowldge, attitude and practices of adult HIV positive females between the ages of 18 and 49 were selected for the study. Approval for the study was obtained from the Ethics Committee University of Stellenbosch with reference number N11/04/123, and the Northern Cape Department of Health. The study was carried out between June 2011 and July 2011. The questionnaire was designed based on a publication cited on contraceptive practices of women in Northern Tshwane. Setting: The study was conducted in the ARV clinics of the Kuruman and Tshwaragano districts hospitals and the four community health centres in the John Taolo Gaetsewe Health District. This district is a predominantly rural district. Results: Data was provided by 224 participants who fullfiled the inclusion criteria. The knowledge about condom ranked highest(100%) followed by injectibles(94%), oral contraceptive pills(87%), female sterilization(66%) and emmergency contraception(51%). IUCD is the method that is least known(3%).Nurses are the major source of information about contraceptives(89%) while the educator give the least information to participants on contraceptives(40%). 100% of participants had access to oral contraceptive pills and injectibles at their local clinics while the method that was least accessible are IUCD(2%) and hormonal implants(0%). There was a 100% positive perception of injectibles, 74% to female sterilization 67% for morning after pill and 61% to oral contarecptive pills while male sterilization had a positive perception of 12% and IUCD (8%). Availability of contraceptives influenced choice of contraceptives as participants used available methods at the clinic which were condoms, injectibles, oral contraceptives and female sterilization. Partners of participants and tradition also influenced use while non use was mainly because participant wanted to fall pregnant(22%), side effects(6%) and tuberculosis(1%). Conclusion This study revealed that participants had very good knowledge and positive perception about the readily available contraceptive methods at the local clinics. This was true as 100% were well informed about condoms, 94% about injectibles and 87% about oral contracetive pills. At clinics in John Taolo Gaetsewe health District the three methods of contraceptive mentioned above were what you find readily available. 51% of partcipants were also well informed about emmergency contraception this showed the level of awareness in this area on emmergency contraception despite their low level of education . The study revealed that partners of participants and traditional healer had impact on contraceptive use, while getting pregnant topped the list on reasons why contraceptive was discontinued. Parents, teachers and the media should get more involved in the enlightenment campaign about contraceptive as it will help protect women from unplanned pregnancies.

M. Comm. / One function of skeletal muscle is to serve as the body's shock absorbers and thus dampen rates of loading (ROL) around joints during activities. However, it is not clear whether individuals with strong leg muscles actually demonstrate different ROL during gait than weaker individuals. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine the significance of muscle strength on ROL during gait. Females (ages 18 to 50) were solicited via advertisement and screened via phone interviews. Subjects (n=56) were chosen and placed into one of three groups based on training history: Strength Trained (ST), Aerobically Trained (AT), and Sedentary (S). Subjects walked barefoot (10 trials) over an 8 m walkway while ROL was sampled using a 1000 Hz force platform (AMTI OR6-6). Gait speed was controlled between 2.22 - 2.45 m.s -1 using telemetric photocells placed three meters apart. Maximum concentric and eccentric quadriceps and hamstring strength were measured at 90 degrees•s -1 using an isokinetic dynamometer (KINCOM 500H). Peak torque was divided by body weight to determine relative strength (Nrn-kg -1 ). Statistical analyses (p<0.05) included ANOVA and the Bonferroni/Dunn post-hoc test. There were no significant differences in age, height or walking speed across groups. The S group (78.3 ± 15.6 kg, n=18) weighed significantly more than the AT (60.5 ± 8.0 kg, n=19) and ST (63.1 ± 10.7 kg, n=19) groups. Body composition analyses showed that the mean body fat percentage of the S group (34.8 ± 7.3 %, n=18) was significantly higher than both AT (22.3 ± 5.7 %, n=19) and ST (23.2 ± 6.9 %, n=19) groups. Relative concentric and eccentric strength of the quadriceps of the AT (2.02 ± 0.07, n=19; 3.49 ± 0.18, n=19 respectively) and ST (2.1 ± 0.08, n=19; 3.50 ± 0.14, n=19 respectively) groups were significantly greater than the S (1.68 ± 0.07, n=18; 2.63 ± 0.10, n=18 respectively) group. Relative concentric hamstrings strength of both the AT (1.07 ± 0.05, n=19) and ST (1.08 ± 0.04, n=19) groups were significantly greater than the S (0.91 ± 0.04, n=18) group. Relative eccentric hamstring strength of only the ST (1.60 ± 0.07, n=19) group was significantly greater than the (1.34 ± 0.08, n=18) group. There were no significant differences in ROL between the S (2.21 ± 0.15 %Wt.ms -1 , n=18) and AT groups (2.14 ± 0.15 %Wt-ms 1 , n=19) (p=0.70), and the AT (2.14 ± 0.15 %Wt.ms-1 , n=19) and ST (1.82 ± 0.10 %Wt.ms -1 , n=19) (p=0.10) groups. However, the females in the ST (1.82 ± 0.10 %Wt•ms -1 , n=19) group had significantly lower ROL than the females in the S group. In addition, females in the ST group demonstrated a lower frequency of heelstrike transient (HST) occurrence. Seven of the S (n=18) females demonstrated HST while only four of the ST (n=19) females did. In conclusion, strength trained females demonstrated significantly lower rates of loading during gait than those in the sedentary group. High ROL have been associated with knee pain and osteoarthritis. These findings suggest that strength training may decrease the risk for these maladies.

Concussions remain a serious public health concern, with approximately 1.6 million to 3 million sport and recreational traumatic and brain injuries occurring every year in the United States. Most research on concussions has been conducted on male athletes, specifically, football players. However, female sport participation has steadily increased over the past decade. Recent studies suggest that the incidence of and recovery from sport-related concussion varies between male and female athletes, with women having a higher risk of sustaining a concussion and taking a longer time to recover than men. As a result, this article addresses the role of gender in the assessment and management of sport-related concussion.

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The general objectives of this study were to determine the work-home interaction of South African working females, to investigate the prevalence of work-home interaction and to determine if differences concerning work-home interaction exist between different demographical groups. An availability sample (n = 500) was taken from working females within six provinces of South Africa. The SWING and a demographical questionnaire were administered. Structural equation modelling (SEM) showed that a four-factor model, that measures both the direction (work-home interaction and home-work interaction) and the quality (positive or negative) of interaction, fitted the data best. All four factors were reliable, according to the Cronbach alpha coefficients. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to establish differences between work-home interaction and different demographic characteristics. Statistically significant differences exist between demographic groups based on race, language, occupation, parental status, household situation and freedom to arrange circumstances. Recommendations were made for further research / Thesis (M.Com. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

In mammals, development of a new organism requires fertilisation of the female egg by sperm. The resulting zygote develops into the blastocyst stage as it travels towards the uterus. Within the uterus, the blastocyst invades the maternal tissues and establishes access to the maternal blood supply. This process is called implantation and is absolutely essential for the further development of the conceptus and establishment of pregnancy. Successful implantation requires a proper preparation of the uterus and the embryo as well as a molecular dialogue between the embryo and the uterine tissues. Female mice that have a disruption in the Plcβ1 gene are infertile. In the course of this Thesis it became apparent that the main cause of their infertility is their inability to implant their embryos. PLCβ1 protein is a mediator of G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) signalling and it is involved in the production of second messengers essential for downstream transmission of signals. A host of reproductive functions are under the control of GPCR signalling. In this PhD Thesis the infertile phenotype of Plcβ1 knockout (KO) female mice was investigated to identify the reproductive processes affected by the lack of a functional PLCβ1 protein. A combination of histological, molecular biology and in vivo techniques were utilised to show that at the time of implantation, embryos fail to attach to the uterine epithelium of KO uteri. In addition, it was demonstrated that estrogen signalling and components of the endocannabinoid metabolism, both key processes for successful implantation are severely altered in KO uteri. These observations show that KO uteri fail to prepare for implantation. In addition, the KO reproductive tract exerts a detrimental effect on pre- and peri- implantation embryo development. Currently, failure of implantation is thought to be one of the major causes of infertility in women and up to this date there are no successful treatments. The results of this project expand our current knowledge on the physiology of implantation and provide cues for the development of diagnostic markers and treatments for the women who are unable to conceive.

Approved for public release, distribution is unlimited / This thesis compares characteristics that influence intended stay/leave behavior of non prior service junior naval officers from two different time periods. Samples of officers, under the rank of lieutenant, with less then six years of active duty service from the 1992 and 1999 Department of Defense Surveys of Active Duty Personnel were used for this analysis. Metrics for important determinates of retention were constructed using similar questions from both surveys. Logistic regression was used to identify significant influences on retention intentions in both survey years. Two composite dimensions positively affected retention intentions in both survey years: satisfaction with Service Attributes and satisfaction with Present Employment Attributes. Being female negatively affected retention intentions in both surveys. The minority variable, Black, the number of PCS moves, and having debt greater than $7 ,500 positively affected retention intentions, while being stationed onboard a ship, probability of finding a civilian job, and the composite dimension, satisfaction with Future Employment Attributes, negatively affected retention intentions in 1992. Influence from a significant other and the number of hours worked positively affected retention in 1999. Monetary variables were highly significant for retention intentions in 1992 but not in 1999. It is likely that the force drawdown, base closures, and a weak economy in 1992 explain these differences. / Lieutenant, United States Navy

The current study examined if there was a statistically significant difference between Black females' hair preferences with regard to their levels of self-esteem. The researcher also examined if there was a statistically significant correlation between Black females' hair satisfaction and their self-esteem. Participants were given a 26-item online questionnaire that consisted of items from the Rosenberg Self-Esteem and Bankhead and Johnson Hair-Esteem Scale. A multiple comparison analysis revealed that there were no statistically significant differences between the self-esteem levels of Black females' based on their preferred hair preferences (f ( 4, 95) = 1.126, p=.349). However, a correlation analysis did indicate that higher levels of self-esteem were associated with higher levels of hair satisfaction - how satisfied one is with her hair (r =.540, n=99, p=.000).

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the gender differences in the experiences of Kenyan youth living with HIV-AIDS and their decisions in relation to the disease in Kenya. There is need for counselors, educators, related professionals, and other stakeholders to have knowledge and awareness of the gender differences in the experiences of youth living with HIV-AIDS and their decisions in relation to the disease. To capture the distinctive meanings each youth has assigned to his or her experiences and decisions related to the disease, the study used a qualitative Interpretative Phenomenological Approach (IPA). Four focus group interviews were conducted with 33 18-24 year old Kenyan youth (17 female and 16 male) who were living with HIV-AIDS. The youth receive HIV-AIDS support services in the Thika and Kiambu District/County Hospitals' HIV-AIDS Comprehensive Care Centers (CCCs) in Kenya. Five main themes emerged from data analysis including: (a) Self-Portraiture as Youth; (b) Reactions to a Positive HIV-AIDS Diagnosis; (c) HIV-AIDS Contraction Context; (d) Day-to-day Life While HIV-AIDS Positive; and (e) Sexual Behavior While HIV-AIDS Positive - Prevention. Implications for theory, research, and practice are suggested.