Increased awareness of protection against infections such as Hepatitis Band Human Immune-deficiency Virus (HIV)/ Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and other sexually transmitted diseases has led to an increase in the demand for latex gloves and condoms leading to an increase in latex allergy. Besides latex, condoms also contain several undisclosed chemicals including antioxidants, accelerators, emulsifiers, stabilizers, lubricants, and in some cases flavourings and colourants. Though extensive testing is done to evaluate the physical quality of condoms, little information is available regarding the biological safety of condoms. In this study a modification of the direct cell culture testing method that is specified by the American Test Method F813-83 of 1998 was used to determine the cytotoxicity of the surface material of latex condoms prepared at time intervals that represents normal physiological exposure times T2, T4 and T8. The L929 cells were exposed to medium containing increasing amounts of condom washings (0-66%) for 20 hours. After exposure cell number and viability was determined using the Crystal violet (CV) and 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-3H-tetrazolium bromide (MTI) assays respectively. Data was evaluated using a split-plot design with the appropriate Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The effect of the condom washings on cell morphology and CV staining, MTI metabolism and Neutral red (NR) uptake at a fixed condom washing (16%) and exposure time T8 was evaluated microscopically. Cell membrane integrity was evaluated by Propidium iodide (PI) uptake and with PI staining after fixation and Hoechst 33324 (H33342) staining nuclear structure was evaluated with fluorescence microscopy. Apoptosis induced DNA fragmentation was evaluated by agarose gel electrophoresis. The effects of condom washings at 16% condom washing and exposure times T2, T4 and T8 was further evaluated in the HeLa cell line, a cell line in origin and type closer to that of the cervical lining. Cytotoxicity was evaluated using the CV, MTT and NR assays. In the L929 cell line, condom types Non-lubricated condoms (NLC), Lubricated condoms (LC) and Lubricated and flavoured condoms (LFC) behaved differently over time of exposure and the concentrations of condom washings. LFC were found to induce a decrease in cell number compared to other condom types, followed by LC and NLC revealed increases in cell number. Split-plot analysis, revealed that condom type x time (CT x Time) is significantly different due to the effect observed at T2 for LC. The MTT usually considered being more sensitive than the CV assay showed only toxicity for LFC and not for NLC and LC as with the CV assay. Exposure to LFC revealed significant decrease of 70 % decrease in cell viability at T8. Condom washings, LC, LFC and LFCC had no effect on cell morphology following CV staining. MTT metabolism and NR uptake was reduced and altered cell morphology was observed for L929 cells exposed to LFC and LFCC. Little PI uptake was observed for all cells exposed to condom washings. Condensed nuclei were observed for L929 cells exposed to LFC and LFCC while Hoechst staining revealed peripheral arrangement of DNA with Hoechst 33342 staining. Cell death in L929 cells were found to be mediated by apoptosis with L929 exposed to LFC showing the most damage. All effects of LFC is greater than that observed for LFCC indicating that other factors rather than the number of components present in each type of condom may account for toxicity. Toxicity of condom washings were compared to that found in the L929 cell line using the CV and MTT assays and an additional bioassay the NR assay was included. Condom types, LC, LFC and LFCC had a significant effect on cell viability and lysosomal membrane integrity. Differences observed between the L929 and HeLa cells were due to the increased viability observed for LC and the decrease in membrane integrity for LFC on HeLa cells. With LC and LFC no decrease in cell number and viability was observed as previously reported for the L929 cell line. Although no decreased in cell viability is observed for LFC a decrease of 75% in lysosomal membrane integrity is observed. The increase in cell viability found for HeLa exposed to LC (although statistically not significant) cannot be explained. Changes in cell viability and membrane integrity was only observed for HeLa cells, indicating that the HeLa cell line is more sensitive to the cytotoxic effects of condom washings. Furthermore the NR assay is a more sensitive assay than the MTT assay in detecting the cytotoxic effects of LFC condom washings at low concentrations. These are assays address only the effects of short-term exposure and not possible genotoxic effects that may occur following repeated and long-term exposure as reported in other latex products. / Dissertation (MSc (Anatomy))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Anatomy / unrestricted

This study will look at the possible interpretations and implementation methods that a state may adopt in accordance with internationally recognised standards and best practices. This will be in light of the special context of Africa and specifically as regards the disposition of women in the HIV and AIDS pandemic. The author critically analyse article 14(1)(e)of the African Women’s Protocol and establish possible interpretations that best advance the public health goal of arresting the spread of HIV in Africa / Thesis (LLM (Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa)) -- University of Pretoria, 2008. / A Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Law University of Pretoria, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Masters of Law (LLM in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa). Prepared under the supervision of Dr. Patrice E. Vahard of the Faculty of Law, Addis Ababa University / http://www.chr.up.ac.za/ / Centre for Human Rights / LLM

O estudo propõe, com base na escuta das histórias de vida de dez jovens, entre 19 e 25 anos, que vivem na prostituição em boates da cidade de Santo André-SP, realizar uma discussão a respeito da prevenção das DST/AIDS e da toxicomania. A partir da fala de cada entrevistada sob o enfoque da psicanálise, evidenciou-se o fato de que as jovens, embora disponham de informações sobre medidas preventivas das DST/aids, vivenciam um conflito de identidade expresso em vários níveis de seu discurso que contribui para a vulnerabilidade dessas doenças, sobretudo nas relações que envolvem afetividade. Apoiando-se nesses discursos, foi possível pontuar a implicação dessa ambiguidade no cuidado de si e na necessidade de políticas públicas que abordem a prostituição, levando em conta esse aspecto. / The purpose of this study is to discuss the prevention of STDs/AIDS and drug adiction, starting from listening to ten life stories from youngsters, between 19 and 25 years old, who are involved in prostitution at nightclubs from the city of Santo André-SP. Through the speech of each and every one of them, under the psychoanalysis approach, it was possible to notice that, although having information on the prevention methods against STDs/AIDS, the youngsters live an identity conflict shown in many levels of their discourse, which contributes to their vulnerability towards these diseases, mainly in their affective relationships. Based on these discourses, it was possible to identify the implications of this ambiguity while caring for themselves and the need of public policies that take prostitution into account, regarding this aspect, from a woman\'s point of view.

O estudo propõe, com base na escuta das histórias de vida de dez jovens, entre 19 e 25 anos, que vivem na prostituição em boates da cidade de Santo André-SP, realizar uma discussão a respeito da prevenção das DST/AIDS e da toxicomania. A partir da fala de cada entrevistada sob o enfoque da psicanálise, evidenciou-se o fato de que as jovens, embora disponham de informações sobre medidas preventivas das DST/aids, vivenciam um conflito de identidade expresso em vários níveis de seu discurso que contribui para a vulnerabilidade dessas doenças, sobretudo nas relações que envolvem afetividade. Apoiando-se nesses discursos, foi possível pontuar a implicação dessa ambiguidade no cuidado de si e na necessidade de políticas públicas que abordem a prostituição, levando em conta esse aspecto. / The purpose of this study is to discuss the prevention of STDs/AIDS and drug adiction, starting from listening to ten life stories from youngsters, between 19 and 25 years old, who are involved in prostitution at nightclubs from the city of Santo André-SP. Through the speech of each and every one of them, under the psychoanalysis approach, it was possible to notice that, although having information on the prevention methods against STDs/AIDS, the youngsters live an identity conflict shown in many levels of their discourse, which contributes to their vulnerability towards these diseases, mainly in their affective relationships. Based on these discourses, it was possible to identify the implications of this ambiguity while caring for themselves and the need of public policies that take prostitution into account, regarding this aspect, from a woman\'s point of view.

All adolescents are vulnerable to get involved in risky sexual behavior but the adolescent in a children’s home is more vulnerable due to excessive pressure from the peer group, dysfunctional family involvement and the high occurrence of sexual abuse. A high number of children in children’s homes were exposed to serious trauma before being admitted to a children’s home and this influences their view of the world and the frame of reference through which problems and challenges are approached. In the children’s home sex education form part of lifeskills programmes that are presented by the social workers. Lifeskills programmes are usually presented to groups and sex education includes information on reproduction and sexually transmitted diseases. The sex education programmes presented by the children’s home and schools do not seem to change the adolescent’s attitude and behavior in terms of sexual aspects. It is necessary to take the adolescent’s needs in terms of sex education into consideration since the adolescent’s search for independence also creates a need to be able to have input in decisions that influences her life. The goal of this research project was to determine the needs of adolescent girls in a children’s home regarding sex education. To achieve this goal a thorough literature study was performed with regard to the developmental needs of adolescents and specifically the developmental needs of adolescents in a children’s home. An investigation was also done on the history of sex education in South Africa and the need for sex education today. The current programmes and sources regarding sex education in South Africa were investigated and information was obtained on the sex education of the child in the children’s home. The researcher attempted to fill the gaps in the literature regarding the needs of adolescents regarding sex education by means of an empirical study. Qualitative information collection techniques were used, namely semi-structured interviews. The empirical study took the form of one-on-one interviews with the assistance of a semi-structured interview schedule with 11 adolescent girls in a children’s home. The respondents were selected by using purposive sampling. The collective case study was utilised as the research strategy since the study focused on understanding a specific social issue (sex education) in a specific population (adolescent girls in the Abraham Kriel Maria Kloppers Children’s Home). Through this the researcher came to the conclusion that adolescent girls in a children’s home have many needs regarding sex education and these needs were identified. Recommendations were made with reference to the conclusions formed that would enable professionals to develop programmes on sex education that are based on the needs of adolescent girls in a children’s home. / Dissertation (MSD (Play Therapy))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Social Work and Criminology / MSD (Play Therapy) / unrestricted