Beställningsfrekvensen för detektion av Trichomonas vaginalis samt Mycoplasma genitalium i Jönköpings län är låg jämfört med den för Chlamydia trachomatis och Neisseria gonorrhoeae.  Både T. vaginalis och M. genitalium har associerats med infektion av humant papillomvirus (HPV) samt kan bland annat orsaka salpingit med infertilitet som potentiell komplikation. Patogenerna har även beskrivits öka risken för transmission av HIV. Syftet med studien var att detektera T. vaginalis samt M. genitalium med realtids-Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) för uppskattning av prevalens hos individer provtagna för C. trachomatis, N. gonorrhoeae samt HPV i Jönköpings län. Hos individer över 25 år, provtagna för C. trachomatis och N. gonorrhoeae, uppskattades prevalensen till 5,5 % för M. genitalium samt 0,13 % för T. vaginalis. Hos samma individer var prevalensen av C. trachomatis och N. gonorrhoeae 4,5 % respektive 0,13 %. Prevalensen hos individer provtagna för HPV uppskattades till 2,3 % för M. genitalium samt 0,26 % för T. vaginalis. De slutsatser som dras är att relevans finns för en mer frekvent beställning av M. genitalium samt att analys för detektion av endast en patogen ej är optimal. Multiplex analys för detektion av sexuellt överförbara patogener föreslås. / The request for detection of Trichomonas vaginalis and Mycoplasma genitalium in Jönköping County is low compared to Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Both T. vaginalis and M. genitalium have been associated with Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection and can cause infections such as salpingitis, potentially resulting in infertility. The pathogens have also been described to increase the risk of HIV transmission. The aim of this study was to detect T. vaginalis and M. genitalium by real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) to estimate the prevalence among individuals tested for C. trachomatis, N. gonorrhoeae and HPV in Jönköping County. In individuals above the age of 25 years, tested for C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae, the prevalence was estimated to 5,5 % for M. genitalium and 0,13 % for T. vaginalis. In the same group the prevalence of C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae was 4,5 % and 0,13 % respectively. The prevalence in individuals tested for HPV was estimated to 2,3 % for M. genitalium and 0,26 % for T. vaginalis. Relevance of a more frequent request for detection of M. genitalium was concluded and single pathogen detection was not deemed to be optimal. Multiplex analysis for detection of sexually transmitted pathogens is encouraged.

There is a paucity of research on the risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and sexual behavior among general populations of men. Research with male populations predominantly has focused on those subgroups considered to be at high risk of disease transmission, such as gay and bisexual men, injection drug users, and adolescents/young adults. Considerably fewer studies have examined factors among men, in general, and heterosexual men, specifically. Therefore, I conducted analyses with a cross-national sample of adult, sexually active men in Brazil, Mexico, and the United States to investigate sexual behaviors and risk factors associated with the human papillomavirus (HPV) and other STIs. The research questions were: 1) How does sexual risk differ among men residing in Brazil, Mexico, and the US by age cohort?; 2) Do men's sexual behaviors change after being tested for HPV and other STIs?; and 3) Do men's sexual behaviors change after being informed of diagnosis with HPV and other STIs? These research questions were explored through a quantitative assessment of secondary data collected through a risk factor questionnaire administered using computer assisted self-interviewing. The study findings underscore the need for public health interventions to address STI risk and transmission among men across the lifespan. Additionally, this study revealed the potential of STI testing as an effective strategy to reduce sexual risk-taking among men. While this research identifies key issues of importance in improving men's sexual health, additional research is needed to provide an enhanced contextual understanding of socio-cultural, interpersonal, and community level factors that affect sexual behaviors and decision-making among men.

No abstract available. / Thesis (M.PH.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2004.

<p>&nbsp / </p> <p align="left">Oral ulcers and oral thrush could be indicative of serious illnesses such as oral cancer, HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), among others. There are many different health care workers that can be approached for advice and/or treatment for oral ulcers and oral thrush (sometimes referred to as mouth sores by patients), including pharmacists. In fact, the mild and intermittent nature of oral ulcers and oral thrush may most likely lead the patient to present to a pharmacist for immediate treatment. In addition, certain aspects of access are exempt at a pharmacy such as long queues and waiting times, the need to make an appointment and the cost for consultation. Thus pharmacies may serve as a reservoir of undetected cases of oral cancer, HIV and other STIs. <b><font face="Times New Roman">Aim</font></b><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT" size="3"><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT" size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">: To determine how community pharmacists in the Western Cape manage </font>oral ulcers and oral thrush.</font></font></p>

<p>The aim of the study was to explore the socio-cultural influences in decision making involving sexual behaviour among adolescents in Khayelitsha, Cape Town. Cultural beliefs associated with adolescents&rsquo / decision to become sexually active were explored, as well as the social norms influences involved in adolescents&rsquo / sexual behaviour. The theoretical framework used for the study was Bronfenbrenner&rsquo / s ecological systems theory of development. The results indicated that adolescent pregnancy was perceived as unacceptable behaviour although found widespread in communities. Social influences such as peer influence, low socioeconomic status, alcohol use and lack of parental supervision were found to play a role in adolescents&rsquo / risky sexual behaviour. Cultural beliefs, cultural myths and social norms were identified as socio-cultural influences that endorsed issues such as gender disparities, which made adolescent mothers vulnerable. Findings from this study suggest that female adolescents are faced with sexual behaviour complexities.</p>

Venereal diseases (VDs) are infections that are mainly transmitted through sexual intercourse and amongst these are gonorrhoea, syphilis, chlamydia and trichomoniasis. Gonorrhoea is the most commonly known VD and the widest spread contagious infection in the world. Out of 448 million cases of curable venereal infections, gonorrhoea represents 88 million cases and the rest are syphilis, chlamydia and trichomoniasis. Gonorrhoea has recently been rated as in the emergent multidrug resistance phase. Venereal diseases are amongst the major diseases ravaging many rural communities. People infected with these diseases are considered a disgrace in the community. Indigenous populations, for example the Vha-Venda people tend to use medicinal plants to treat these infectious diseases rather than using western medicines. Vha-Venda people have depended on medicinal plants for their health and survival for millenia. In order to validate and give scientific credence to the use of medicinal plants by the Vha-Venda people for venereal diseases, several pharmacological assays were carried out. The study was aimed at evaluating the; antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory activities, HIV-type 1 reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibition properties and to determine phenolic contents as well as evaluating the mutagenic properties of, 12 medicinal plants used by the Vha-Venda people against venereal and related diseases. An attempt was also made toward isolating and identification of the most active compounds from some extracts that were active against Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Twelve medicinal plants and various plant parts, Adansonia digitata (bark), Acacia karroo (bark), Aloe chabaudii (roots), Bolusanthus speciosus (leaves, bark and stem), Ekebergia capensis (leaves and bark), Elephantorrhiza burkei (roots), Grewia occidentalis (roots), Osyris lanceolata (roots), Pappea capensis (leaves), Peltophorum africanum (bark), Pterocarpus angolensis (leaves and bark) and Ximenia caffra (leaves and roots) were evaluated for their antimicrobial properties against two Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus), three Gram-negative (Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumonia) bacteria and the fungus Candida albicans. The plant materials were extracted with petroleum ether (PE), dichloromethane (DCM), 80% ethanol (EtOH) and water. Methanol was used for extracting materials for phenolic contents and HIV-1RT assays. The Disc diffusion method was used to determine gonococcal percentage inhibition and a microdilution assay was used to determine minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentrations (MFC). Bolusanthus speciosus and X. caffra extracts exhibited the best antigonococcal, antifungal and antibacterial activities whilst A. digitata and A. chabaudii showed poor activities. The medicinal plants were also evaluated for cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and -2) and HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibition activity. The DCM and PE extracts of A. digitata bark, B. speciosus bark, P. angolensis bark and P. capensis leaves showed good anti-inflammatory activity against both COX-1 and COX-2. Methanol and water extracts of B. speciosus stems, P. africanum bark, P. angolensis leaves and P. capensis leaves exhibited good anti-HIV-1 RT activity. A. chabaudii roots, E. capensis bark and O. lanceolata roots showed low HIV-1 RT percentage inhibition. Phytochemical analysis using spectrophotometric methods revealed the presence of a variety of phenolic compounds in all the plant extracts including total phenolics, flavonoids, gallotannins and condensed tannins. High levels of total phenolics, flavonoids, gallotannins and condensed tannins were detected in X. caffra. Low amounts of flavonoids, gallotannins and condensed tannins were detected in B. speciosus. The Ames test using Salmonella typhimurium tester strain TA98 with and without S9 metabolic activation revealed that all plant extracts were non-mutagenic toward S. typhimurium strains TA98 without metabolic activation. However, E. burkei roots and E. capensis bark showed mutagenic effects toward TA98 after metabolic activation. Therefore, these two plants need to be used with caution, however more studies are required to confirm this result. Good antimicrobial activity observed in X. caffra leaves prompted an attempt to isolate active compounds. A pure compound from X. caffra leaves exhibited moderate activity (63%) against N. gonorrhoeae. However, the structure of the compound has as yet to be ratified. Pharmacological activity of the twelve medicinal plants used by Vha-Venda people against venereal and related diseases were validated in this study. The results obtained in this study give credence to the use of some of these plants. This study has further confirmed the need for screening these medicinal plants for more pharmacological activities. These plants may offer a new source of chemicals for the effective treatment of venereal and related diseases. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2012.

This dissertation has two overall aims; to explore and develop the use of SNA in sociology, and to demonstrate that sociology has much to give to other sciences. Interdisciplinary collaboration is necessary because we do not live in a world in which subject areas are strictly isolated. Human beings are social animals, and a sociological understanding is crucial in all human-related science. The examination in this thesis of different kinds of social networks and how they affect the lives of individuals (and vice versa) will provide knowledge both in the development of methods for analyzing social networks, and in their areas specific scientific areas. Paper I-III investigates sexual networks and how the number of sexual encounters involving intercourse in combination with the number of sexual partners affects the dynamics of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The results show that this relationship is non-linear, indicating that it may not be the individuals with the largest number of partners who have the most impact on the spread of STIs. One might also have to focus interventions on individuals who have a large number of sexual encounters involving intercourse per partner, and who have several (but not necessarily a very large number of) partners. In the fourth paper, we apply the theoretical concept of so-called small worlds to a sexual network. The spread of epidemics can be difficult to stop in such networks, and we show that the sexual network of individuals infected with chlamydia can be characterized as such. The fifth and last paper differs from the four first. In this paper, we focus on how individuals who committed suicide in Stockholm during the 1990s where connected to each other. The social-interaction exposure effect is larger for the individual within the family than at the workplace; yet work-domain exposure is more important for the overall suicide rate because individuals are more often exposed to suicides of co-workers than family members.

Child welfare agencies are currently being challenged to develop and implement educational and prevention programs that address sex education, STDs and HIV/AIDS. Based on two staff interviews, six adolescent and seven staff focus group discussions at Batshaw Youth and Family Centres, three main themes are addressed: first, that along with Batshaw Youth and Family Centres' mandate and initiatives, additional measures must be taken to translate policy into social work practice. Initiatives to educate staff and youth about sexuality, STDs and HIV/AIDS lacked consistency and continuity consequently, staffs and youth's experience and attitudes toward sex education, STDs and HIV/AIDS are affected. Implications for social work are also discussed.

Dissertation (Ph.D.) -- The Institute for Clinical Social Work, 1999. / A dissertation submitted to the faculty of the Institute of Clinical Social Work in partial fulfillment for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2006. / Title from first page of PDF file (viewed Feb. 14, 2008). Includes bibliographical references.