Since the implementation of the prevention of mother–to–child transmission of HIV program in South Africa in 2001, infant deaths due to HIV and AIDS have still remained high. HIV–exposed infants need to be taken for follow–up, schedule at six weeks, for PCR HIV testing. When the infant is found to be HIV–positive, the antiretroviral treatment is commenced for life (DOH, 2010). This benefits them in that the earlier they start treatment, the higher their quality of life and their life expectancy will be. Health workers face a problem in that there are still mothers of HIV–exposed infants who do not return their babies for the 6 weeks of age follow–up schedule and their babies therefore do not benefit from the treatment and care. The study looked at the reasons for the low follow–up of babies born to HIV–positive mothers according to HIV–positive mothers and nurses and counsellors and what strategies can be used by nurses and counsellors to encourage the mothers to bring their babies for follow–up. To answer these questions, qualitative, exploratory and contextual design was used. Purposive sampling was done with participants who had knowledge about the research problem. HIV–positive mothers were individually interviewed and nurses and counsellors were interviewed in a focus group. Five individual interviews and three focus group interviews were conducted. The focus groups were interviewed twice for each question mentioned. Responses were satisfactory with the following categories emerging from the findings: fear about disclosure, denial of status, insufficient knowledge about HIV, accusations about who is the actual “giver” of HIV and incongruent health education on HIV and AIDS and the management thereof in the case of babies with HIV, with specific reference to incorrect and/or insufficient information. Recommendations are made concerning these issues, so as to effect an increase in the follow–up of babies born to HIV–positive mothers. / Thesis (M.Cur.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

This study evaluates whether a hands-on educational intervention makes a significant difference in the proper use of an infant passenger restraint by a parent. The sample was chosen from parents who were at least seven months pregnant and who planned to transport their infants in passenger motor vehicles. Each participant was randomly placed in one of two groups. All participants received a free infant car seat and a standardized education session on the safety and use of infant passenger restraints. The experimental group received an additional component consisting of a hands-on demonstration and return demonstration of correct installation and use in their own vehicle. All hands-on teaching was done by RNs who were nationally certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians. Follow up observations of correctness of use was done by appointment several months after birth using a standardized observation tool. The total sample consisted of 111 parents. There were 56 in the intervention group and 55 in the control group. Participants ranged in age from 19 to 53 years, with the majority in their 30's. Most were women. They were well educated, with above average incomes. A high number were of Asian ethnicity. A total of24 (22%) had correct use. Of these, 18 (32%) were in the intervention group and 6 (11%) were in the control group. The intervention group was 4 times more likely to have correct use than the control group (odds ratio 4.3, P value=0.0074). The number of errors per person was 0 to 7, with most having 0 to 2. The rates of errors were 33% less in the intervention group (ratio of 0.67). There were few serious errors. Secondary variables tested in regression analysis were age, education, income, and help from others. None of these variables was found to have a significant effect on the outcome. The hands-on educational intervention made a significant difference in the proper use of a child passenger restraint by a parent. This study demonstrates the value of hands­ on teaching for parents to learn how to install and use a child car seat. Everyone who transports a child in a motor vehicle should have access to this type of education. Nurses, physicians, and others working with families should encourage them to seek out this kind of teaching, and should advocate for more programs which offer this service.

Bacteriophage (phage), virus of bacteria, has been proposed as a mean to inactivate bacteria that are pathogens of humans. Applied prophylatically to food, phage might decrease the numbers of potential pathogens we ingest. Much active research on using the phages of bacteria to control Gram negative foodborne pathogens are described in the literatures, but comparatively little research describes the phages of Gram positive bacteria and their use as biocontrol agents on food. In this work, previous undescribed phages, able to infect Bacillus cereus and Listeria monocytogenes, were isolated from soil and ruminants faecal material, respectively. As the first step in assessing their potential as biocontrol agents, the isolated phages were purified, concentrated and characterised (albeit to different degrees). The Bacillus phages had a narrow host range while the Listeria phages had a broad host range. Listeria phages also infected L. monocytogenes 2000/47, a strain which recurs in New Zealand clinical cases. Both Bacillus and Listeria phages appeared to be of the Myoviridae family judging by their structure in electron micrographs. The Bacillus FWLBc1 and FWLBc2 phages were lytic phages with a latent period of 106 and 102 min at 37°C, and an average burst size of 322 and 300 phages per infected cell, respectively. Moreover, they both had genomes of approximately 134 kb. All newly isolated and characterized phages were chloroform resistant and survived storage better at 4°C than at room or freezing temperatures. Bacillus phages significantly reduced the bacterial population in mashed potatoes within 24 h at room temperature, when applied at a phage to host ratio of 1000. Listeria phages rapidly inactivated the host population to a low optical density. The findings of this thesis will add to the current knowledge of phages in the context of various environmental conditions for different bacteria and will demonstrate the potential of phages as food safety biocontrol agents.

Thesis (M.F.A)--York University, 2004. Graduate Programme in Visual Arts. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:MR13046

Thesis (M. Nurs.)--University of Hong Kong, 2007.

Thesis (M.A.)--RMIT University. / "As a partial requirement for Master of Arts (Animation & Interactive Media) by Research Project 25th March 2002, studied at Centre for Animation and Interactive Media, School of Creative Media, Faculty of Art, Design and Communication" Typescript (photocopy). Bibliography: leaves 66-67.

Thesis (M. S.)--University of New South Wales, 2001. / Also available online.

Thesis (M. Med. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2007.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Kentucky, 2008. / Title from document title page (viewed on October 30, 2008). Document formatted into pages; contains: viii, 48 p. : ill. Includes abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 43-47).

Thesis (M. Med. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 23-34)