Client knowledge, attitudes and practices to cervical screening in Mitchell's Plain, Cape Town, South Africa

Background: Cervical cancer is a common cause of death among women in developing countries, including South Africa. In 2000, the South African National Department of Health introduced the national cervical cancer screening policy, which states that every woman is entitled to three free Papanicolaou (Pap) smears in her lifetime, at 1 0-year intervals starting at the age of 30 years. A number of studies have indicated that the uptake of cervical cancer screening is dependent on the targeted population's knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) related to health-seeking behaviours. The aim of the study is to determine the baseline KAP to Pap smears and cervical cancer of women aged 25 years and older in Mitchell's Plain, Western Cape Province. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was undertaken among clients attending primary health care facilities in the Mitchell's Plain district, Cape Town, Western Cape Province. The study population consisted of women aged 25 years and older who presented at the public health care facilities in Mitchell's Plain between 1 April and 31 July 2002 and who consented to participate in the study. The data were analysed using the STAT A version 8 statistical package. Results: A total of 445 women were interviewed, most of whom were above the age of 30 years (72%), married (68%) and unemployed (68%). Ninety-five per cent said they had heard of a Pap smear; however, when asked what part of the body was examined during a Pap smear, only 4% correctly answered. Only 13% of the women knew that a Pap smear was a test for cancer of the cervix, although 52% recognised it as a test for cancer. Of the women interviewed, 73% had heard of cancer of the cervix. A total of 78% of women had had a Pap smear. The results indicated no significant association between ever hearing of a pap smear and the following predictors: age, educational level, marital status, pregnancy and the use of contraception. Women who were significantly more likely to have had a Pap smear included: older women, those who were in a relationship, owned a radio, were employed, had ever been pregnant or had heard of a Pap smear before. Main sources of information regarding Pap smears were reported to be posters (17%) and the radio (16%). Conclusions: The data suggest that although a very high proportion of the women (95%) had heard of Pap smears, a smaller proportion (78%) had actually had a Pap smear. This study showed that there were missed opportunities that the health workers could possibly have utilised to encourage women in the targeted age group to have a Pap smear while at the health facilities for reasons other than reproductive health. Women who had not been afforded the opportunity to have a Pap smear by the health provider reported a great interest in having a Pap smear, showing willingness to improve their health if afforded the opportunity. In order to reduce the high morbidity and mortality from cervical cancer in South Africa, very large numbers of women in the target age group need to be recruited to the screening programme. To be able to achieve an increase in the cervical cancer screening uptake, huge efforts have to be made to actively recruit women who are within reach of the health services, particularly any women who present at the health facilities

The Spanish E-retailing Customers Segmentation

This article analyses different factors that influence the purchasing behaviour of online supermarket customers. These factors are related to both the appearance of the website as well as the processes that take place when making the purchase. Based on these analyses, the various groups of consumers with homogenous behaviour are studied. The analysis also allows the quality of the service offered by this kind of establishment to be defined, as well as the main dimensions in which it develops. In the conclusions, factors which should influence the manager of an online supermarket to improve the quality of its service are given.Virtual supermarket; segmentation; Internet; E-commerce; marketing.

High fluid intakes do not improve 2 h running performances in a 25 c environment

Bibliography: leaves 33-47

Management strategies for regional aiports: A study applied to Lleida- Alguaire Airport

Purpose: The main objective of this article is to analyse the current situation at Lleida-Alguaire Airport and propose possible actions to increase its profitability. Design/methodology/approach: This study presents the method as a research tool applied to regional airports, in particular, Lleida-Alguaire Airport. Findings: The study shows the importance of air transport and the current situation of Spanish airports, specifically in Catalonia, exposing the main air traffic imbalances between different airports and their effect on tourism. Finally, it describes and analyses the situation of Lleida-Alguaire Airport. Originality/value: This article is one of the first works to focus on regional airports and it seeks ways to improve their economic and social efficiency. Practical Implications: Some actions in relation with aeronautical traffic are presented in order to improve and increase the efficiency of the system

Application of lithium nonafluoro-1-butane sulfonate (nonaflate) based non-aqueous liquid electrolytes (NALE) in lithium-ion batteries

The non-aqueous electrolyte system comprising of the lithium nonafluoro-1-butane sulfonate (LiNfO) as a potential lithium ion-conducting salt in an equivalent binary mixture of propylene carbonate (PC) and 1, 2-dimethoxyethane (DME) as the solvent was explored for the lithium battery applications. The LiNfO based non-aqueous liquid electrolyte (NALE) system showed the highest ionic conductivity of 2.66 x 10-3 S cm-1 at ambient temperature, and a potential window stability of ~5 V. The lithium ion cells, Li/NALE//LiCoO2 werefabricated with the proposed non-aqueous electrolyte. The cell with particular composition of electrolyte delivered a high specific discharge capacity of 154 mA h g-1 at ambient temperature. The potential advantages of the proposed NALE are discussed in detail

Estudio cineantropométrico, nutricional y ergogénico de deportistas de triatlón

La evaluación antropométrica y nutricional de triatletas es una herramienta fundamental en el ámbito deportivo no sólo para estimar el estado de salud, sino para mejorar la calidad de vida, e incluso en determinar posibles talentos deportivos. La presente tesis se encuentra enfocada en triatletas provenientes de la Federación de Triatlón de la Comunidad Valenciana, con una media (DE) de edad de 25,0 (6,5) años, a los cuales se les realizó, previo explicación del estudio y obtención del consentimiento informado, la determinación del perfil restringido, de acuerdo a los criterios de medición y de referencia de la Sociedad Internacional para el Avance de la Cineantropometría (International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry; ISAK), además de la determinación del somatotipo. A nivel nutricional, se determinó la ingesta de los deportistas mediante un cuestionario validado de cinco días, tres antes de la competición, el día de la competición y dos después, evaluándose con el software nutricional DIAL. Por último se determinó el efecto del café para estos deportistas a efectos de deshidratación como de ayuda ergogénica, y se realizó pruebas de rendimiento metabólico y respiratorio de dichos deportistas cuando se les administra dicha bebida de café, considerada como ayuda ergogénica. Los datos obtenidos en esta tesis reflejan que el somatotipo de los triatletas estudiados es del tipo meso-ectomórfico. En el caso de la energía consumida se encuentra aproximadamente en un 53,8% de la recomendada para la población española, y además los triatletas estudiados no alcanzan el porcentaje energético para el desayuno, merienda, mientras que el valor de la cena es superior a las pautas establecidas para la población en general. Si atendemos a los grupos de alimentos consumidos, cinco de ellos aportan un porcentaje energético mayor siendo de manera decreciente los siguientes; cereales, carnes, frutas, lácteos y aceites. Con respecto a las vitaminas su consumo es inferior a los recomendados en cinco de las trece, destacando el caso de la vitamina D, mientras que en el caso de los minerales y oligoelementos es deficiente su consumo en cinco de los ocho triatletas estudiados. En las pruebas de triatlón el consumo mayoritario es de agua a temperatura ambiental, pero su consumo es insuficiente. El uso de las bebidas de café estudiadas no originan deshidratación tras el estudio de la pérdida de peso corporal, densidad, color y los signos clínicos de deshidratación, de hecho la bebida de café Robusta puede ser utilizado para mejorar el rendimiento deportivo, sin peligro de deshidratación, lo que unido a que este tipo de bebida posee una mayor cantidad de compuestos fenólicos como el ácido clorogénico, lo hace una bebida funcional-ergogénica de mayor eficiencia frente a los comprimidos y tabletas de cafeína que habitualmente se consumen a nivel deportivo, además el café robusta prolonga la fase anaérobica y reduce el tiempo de fatiga

Institutional communication in university management: study applied to student recruitment

Este estudio se centra en el análisis de la campaña de comunicación diseñada por la Universidad de Lleida (UdL), para promocionar el grado de Turismo. Se realizó una investigación para obtener el perfil del alumnado del grado de Turismo con la intención de conocer las necesidades y expectativas respecto a los estudios superiores y sus fuentes de información para la elección de sus estudios universitarios, incluyendo tanto Internet como las Redes Sociales. Entre los principales resultados se destaca la importante presencia de la web institucional de la UdL como fuente de información primaria.This study focuses on the analysis of the communication campaign designed by the University of Lleida (UdL) to promote the tourism degree. An investigation was conducted to obtain the profile of the tourism degree students in order to know their needs and expectations about higher education and their sources to choose university, including both Internet and Social Networks. Among the main results we observed a significant presence of institutional web of UdL as a primary information source