Thesis (Ph. D. (Botany)) -- University of Limpopo, 2014 / Refer to document

<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>

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.

<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>

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.

Considerando as situações de vulnerabilidades individuais, sociais e programáticas presentes nos cotidianos de vida adolescentes perante as Infecções Sexualmente Transmissíveis (IST), avaliadas atualmente como principal fator facilitador da transmissão sexual do Vírus da Imunodeficiência Humana (HIV) e Síndrome da Imunodeficiência Adquirida (AIDS), este estudo objetivou conhecer os elementos que constituem as vulnerabilidades na prevenção das IST/HIV/AIDS de um grupo de adolescentes e identificar suas demandas de cuidado à saúde com base no Modelo Bioecológico do desenvolvimento humano. É um estudo qualitativo, conduzido pelo método Photovoice de Caroline C. Wang, usado parcialmente para coleta de informações. O estudo ocorreu em uma Organização Não Governamental (ONG) situada em um município do oeste de Santa Catarina com a participação de dez adolescentes de ambos os sexos, com idades entre 12 e 18 anos. A pesquisa foi aprovada pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa da Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, sob o número 1.267.706. As informações foram interpretadas à luz da Hermenêutica proposta por Paul Ricouer, com suporte no referencial da Vulnerabilidade e do Modelo Bioecológico, emergindo dois temas principais: percepções dos adolescentes perante a prevenção das IST/HIV/AIDS e demandas de cuidado perante a prevenção das IST/HIV/AIDS dos adolescentes. Os resultados sinalizam que o microssistema, ou sistema familiar, é o alicerce do cuidado à saúde sexual dos adolescentes: mesmo que existam constrangimentos e conhecimento incipiente, o que ela ensina repercute em seus comportamentos. O mesossistema, isto é, as vivências com vizinhos e amigos, oportuniza aprendizados; já o exossistema, por meio da ONG, influencia seus crescimentos e desenvolvimento saudáveis; o cronossistema compõe suas histórias de vida, contribuindo com o somatório de conhecimentos que adquirem, enquanto o macrossistema envolve a cultura, as políticas e as ações programáticas de saúde, inseridas nos seus convívios sociais que os fazem perceber a necessidade de autocuidado. Identificou-se que os adolescentes são carentes de informações sobre as IST/HIV/AIDS, sobressaindo o sentimento de vergonha, problemática que também favorece as dificuldades de acesso aos bens e serviços disponibilizados gratuitamente. As demandas de cuidado na saúde sexual englobam o desejo de informações/educação sobre as IST/HIV/AIDS, visitas domiciliares, promoção de campanhas, distribuição de folders e panfletos para despertar nas pessoas a necessidade da prevenção às doenças sexuais. A proposta é empoderar a família porque, como a formadora das bases dos conhecimentos dos adolescentes, poderá contribuir para o não fortalecimento das vulnerabilidades individuais, sociais e programáticas, como também o não favorecimento de ambientes suscetíveis à possibilidade de adoecimento. Acredita-se que os resultados deste estudo fornecem subsídios para o cuidado de enfermagem porque, no âmbito das vulnerabilidades e dos ambientes bioecológicos em que vivem os adolescentes, destacam pontos importantes possíveis de serem incluídos nas estratégias de cuidado à saúde dos mesmos. / Considering situations of individual, social and programmatic vulnerabilities present in the daily lives of adolescents, against Sexually Transmissible Infections (IST), currently evaluated as the main facilitator of sexual transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Syndrome Immunodeficiency Acquired (SIDA). This study aimed to know the elements that constitute vulnerabilities in the prevention of IST/HIV/SIDA of a group of adolescents and to identify their health care demands based on the Bioecological Model of human development. It is a qualitative study, driven by the Photovoice method of Caroline C. Wang, used partially for information gathering. The study was carried out at a non-governmental organization (ONG) located in a municipality in the west of Santa Catarina with the participation of ten adolescents of both sexes, aged between 12 and 18 years. The research was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the State University of Santa Catarina, under the number 1,267,706. The information was interpreted in the light of the hermeneutics proposed by Paul Ricouer, supported by the Vulnerability and Bioecological Model, with two main themes emerging: adolescents' perceptions regarding IST/HIV/SIDA prevention and care demands for prevention IST/HIV/SIDA of adolescents. The results indicate that the microsystem, or family system, is the foundation of adolescent sexual health care: even if there are constraints and incipient knowledge, what it teaches has repercussions on their behaviors. The mesosystem, that is, the experiences with neighbors and friends opportunize learning; already, the exosystem, through the ONG, influences its healthy growth and development. The chronosystem composes their life histories and thus contributes with the sum of knowledge they acquire, while the macro system involves the culture, the policies and the programmatic actions of health, inserted in their social relations that make them realize the necessity of self-care. It was identified that adolescents lack information about IST/HIV/SIDA, with a feeling of shame, a problem that also favors the difficulties of access to the goods and services available free of charge. The demands for sexual health care include the desire for information / education about IST/HIV/SIDA, home visits, promotion of campaigns, distribution of folders and leaflets to awaken in people the need to prevent sexual diseases. The proposal is to empower the family because, as the founder of the knowledge bases of adolescents, it can contribute to the non-strengthening of individual, social and programmatic vulnerabilities, and the non-favoring of environments susceptible to the possibility of becoming ill. It is believed that the results of this study provide subsidies for nursing care, since, within the scope of the bioecological vulnerabilities and environments in which adolescents live, highlights important and possible points to be included in the health care strategies of the same.

Magister Chirurgiae Dentium - MChD / 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. Aim: To determine how community pharmacists in the Western Cape manage oral ulcers and oral thrush. Objectives: The data set included the prevalence of oral complaints confronted by pharmacists, how they manage oral ulcers, oral thrush and mouth sores, their knowledge about these conditions, and the influence of socio-economic status (SES) and metropolitan location (metro or non-metro) on recognition and management of the lesions. Method: A cross-sectional survey of community pharmacists in the Western Cape was conducted. A random sample of pharmacies was stratified by SES (high and low), and metropolitan location. A structured questionnaire was used to conduct a telephonic interview. The questionnaire was faxed to pharmacists 24 hours prior to the interview. Pharmacists were also telephoned 24 hours prior to the interview, but after the questionnaire was faxed, in order to gain informed consent for participation in the study, and to confirm a convenient time to conduct the interview. Results: Two thirds (63%) of pharmacists managed oral problems nearly everyday, and 30% managed these more than once a week. More pharmacists in high SES (73%) areas managed oral problems nearly everyday (Fisher Exact, p=0.0005). Just over half (56%) and 49.2% of pharmacists said that ulcers and thrush, respectively, was the most common oral problem that they encounter. The prevalence of oral thrush was significantly higher in non-metro areas (58%) (RR=0.7 (0.5-1.0) ChiSquared=4.0, p=0.04), and it was also significantly lower in low SES areas (RR=1.6 (1.1-2.4), Chi Squared=6.5, p=0.01). Half the pharmacists reported that they would manage the patient comprehensively. Most would take a history but the quality of the history is poor, thereby compromising their ability to manage these cases appropriately. Only a third would refer a simple oral ulcer, thrush or mouth sore to a doctor/dentist but all pharmacists would have referred a longstanding ulcer to a doctor/dentist. In terms of knowledge, only 33% of pharmacists were aware that oral ulcers and thrush could be indicative of HIV infection, and only 8% linked oral ulcers with oral cancer. There was no discernable pattern of management of oral ulcers and thrush, or of knowledge of the link between these lesions with underlying diseases, by SES and metropolitan locations (Chi Squared, Fisher Exact, p>0.05). Conclusion: The result of this study strengthens the current view of pharmacists as oral health advisors as they encounter oral problems regularly, most commonly oral ulcers and oral thrush. Therefore, the pharmacist can play an important role in the early detection of HIV and oral cancer. However many pharmacists fail to refer these cases to a dentist. Most pharmacists lacked specific knowledge about the relationship of oral ulcers and thrush with underlying conditions, which may explain why many pharmacists are not managing these cases correctly. There is a definite need to train pharmacists at both an under- and post-graduate level with specific emphasis on the proper management of oral ulcers, oral thrush and mouth sores, as well as comprehensive training that outlines why vigilant management of oral ulcers and oral thrush is necessary. / South Africa

Considerando as situações de vulnerabilidades individuais, sociais e programáticas presentes nos cotidianos de vida adolescentes perante as Infecções Sexualmente Transmissíveis (IST), avaliadas atualmente como principal fator facilitador da transmissão sexual do Vírus da Imunodeficiência Humana (HIV) e Síndrome da Imunodeficiência Adquirida (AIDS), este estudo objetivou conhecer os elementos que constituem as vulnerabilidades na prevenção das IST/HIV/AIDS de um grupo de adolescentes e identificar suas demandas de cuidado à saúde com base no Modelo Bioecológico do desenvolvimento humano. É um estudo qualitativo, conduzido pelo método Photovoice de Caroline C. Wang, usado parcialmente para coleta de informações. O estudo ocorreu em uma Organização Não Governamental (ONG) situada em um município do oeste de Santa Catarina com a participação de dez adolescentes de ambos os sexos, com idades entre 12 e 18 anos. A pesquisa foi aprovada pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa da Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, sob o número 1.267.706. As informações foram interpretadas à luz da Hermenêutica proposta por Paul Ricouer, com suporte no referencial da Vulnerabilidade e do Modelo Bioecológico, emergindo dois temas principais: percepções dos adolescentes perante a prevenção das IST/HIV/AIDS e demandas de cuidado perante a prevenção das IST/HIV/AIDS dos adolescentes. Os resultados sinalizam que o microssistema, ou sistema familiar, é o alicerce do cuidado à saúde sexual dos adolescentes: mesmo que existam constrangimentos e conhecimento incipiente, o que ela ensina repercute em seus comportamentos. O mesossistema, isto é, as vivências com vizinhos e amigos, oportuniza aprendizados; já o exossistema, por meio da ONG, influencia seus crescimentos e desenvolvimento saudáveis; o cronossistema compõe suas histórias de vida, contribuindo com o somatório de conhecimentos que adquirem, enquanto o macrossistema envolve a cultura, as políticas e as ações programáticas de saúde, inseridas nos seus convívios sociais que os fazem perceber a necessidade de autocuidado. Identificou-se que os adolescentes são carentes de informações sobre as IST/HIV/AIDS, sobressaindo o sentimento de vergonha, problemática que também favorece as dificuldades de acesso aos bens e serviços disponibilizados gratuitamente. As demandas de cuidado na saúde sexual englobam o desejo de informações/educação sobre as IST/HIV/AIDS, visitas domiciliares, promoção de campanhas, distribuição de folders e panfletos para despertar nas pessoas a necessidade da prevenção às doenças sexuais. A proposta é empoderar a família porque, como a formadora das bases dos conhecimentos dos adolescentes, poderá contribuir para o não fortalecimento das vulnerabilidades individuais, sociais e programáticas, como também o não favorecimento de ambientes suscetíveis à possibilidade de adoecimento. Acredita-se que os resultados deste estudo fornecem subsídios para o cuidado de enfermagem porque, no âmbito das vulnerabilidades e dos ambientes bioecológicos em que vivem os adolescentes, destacam pontos importantes possíveis de serem incluídos nas estratégias de cuidado à saúde dos mesmos. / Considering situations of individual, social and programmatic vulnerabilities present in the daily lives of adolescents, against Sexually Transmissible Infections (IST), currently evaluated as the main facilitator of sexual transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Syndrome Immunodeficiency Acquired (SIDA). This study aimed to know the elements that constitute vulnerabilities in the prevention of IST/HIV/SIDA of a group of adolescents and to identify their health care demands based on the Bioecological Model of human development. It is a qualitative study, driven by the Photovoice method of Caroline C. Wang, used partially for information gathering. The study was carried out at a non-governmental organization (ONG) located in a municipality in the west of Santa Catarina with the participation of ten adolescents of both sexes, aged between 12 and 18 years. The research was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the State University of Santa Catarina, under the number 1,267,706. The information was interpreted in the light of the hermeneutics proposed by Paul Ricouer, supported by the Vulnerability and Bioecological Model, with two main themes emerging: adolescents' perceptions regarding IST/HIV/SIDA prevention and care demands for prevention IST/HIV/SIDA of adolescents. The results indicate that the microsystem, or family system, is the foundation of adolescent sexual health care: even if there are constraints and incipient knowledge, what it teaches has repercussions on their behaviors. The mesosystem, that is, the experiences with neighbors and friends opportunize learning; already, the exosystem, through the ONG, influences its healthy growth and development. The chronosystem composes their life histories and thus contributes with the sum of knowledge they acquire, while the macro system involves the culture, the policies and the programmatic actions of health, inserted in their social relations that make them realize the necessity of self-care. It was identified that adolescents lack information about IST/HIV/SIDA, with a feeling of shame, a problem that also favors the difficulties of access to the goods and services available free of charge. The demands for sexual health care include the desire for information / education about IST/HIV/SIDA, home visits, promotion of campaigns, distribution of folders and leaflets to awaken in people the need to prevent sexual diseases. The proposal is to empower the family because, as the founder of the knowledge bases of adolescents, it can contribute to the non-strengthening of individual, social and programmatic vulnerabilities, and the non-favoring of environments susceptible to the possibility of becoming ill. It is believed that the results of this study provide subsidies for nursing care, since, within the scope of the bioecological vulnerabilities and environments in which adolescents live, highlights important and possible points to be included in the health care strategies of the same.