The negotiating strategies determining coitus in stable heterosexual relationships

Heterosexual behaviour is a complex subject and one which is aggravated by confounding variables. Few studies have investigated the way in which one variable, namely coitus, is initiated and negotiated in stable marital relationships. As the HIV/AIDS pandemic spreads in sub-Saharan Africa, the subject of marital coitus becomes of increasing concern. This study tests a methodology of semi-structured interviews and diary-keeping techniques to investigate how the activity is initiated and negotiated. A research team monitored the study and evaluated the research techniques. The study concluded that the HIV/AIDS pandemic is affecting the initiation and negotiation of coitus between marital partners and that the partners wish to renegotiate the relationship, but the mechanisms for renegotiation are not at present available

The meaning and challenge of voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) for counsellors: report of the Kenya Association of Professional Counsellors (KAPC) conference for sub-Saharan Africa

A large number of voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) sites are being opened in sub-Saharan Africa. The services provided by these sites are playing an increasingly important role in the prevention of HIV/AIDS. The sites offer many possibilities and it is crucial that they provide the optimum services for clients. Counselling is an integral part of these services, yet it receives little attention. Counsellors need to be consulted if the optimum services are to be provided, but they are rarely consulted for their professional opinion. Accordingly, the Kenya Association of Professional Counsellors (KAPC) organised a 3-day conference in September 2002 to provide counsellors, drawn from the sub-Saharan region, with a forum to identify VCT-related issues and discuss their implications. The main aim of the conference was for counsellors to arrive at a consensual position regarding HIV/AIDS and what improvements they thought could be made for the VCT services to clients. The counsellors identified the issues that they considered important and this paper presents those issues together with recommendations regarding improvements. Key words:Voluntary counselling and testing (VCT), conference report, sub-Saharan Africa. Les sens et le défi de la consultation et du dépistage volontaires (VCT) auprès des conseillers: le rapport de la conférence sur l'Afrique subsaharienne de l'Association de Conseillers Professionnels du Kenya (KAPC) RÉSUMÉ Un grand nombre de sites de consultation et de dépistage volontaires (VCT) sont mis en place en Afrique subsaharienne. Les services pourvus dans ces sites jouent un rôle encore plus important dans la prévention du VIH/SIDA. Les sites offrent beaucoup de possibilités et il est crucial qu'ils pourvoient des services les meilleurs aux clients. La consultation psychologique fait partie intégrante de ces services, malgré qu'elle reçoit très peu d'attention. Les conseillers psychologiques doivent être consultés si on veut optimiser les services fournis. Malheureusement, ils sont rarement consultés pour leur opinion professionnelle. En conséquence, l'Association des Conseillers Professionnels du Kenya (KAPC) a organisé une conférence sur 3 jours, en septembre 2002, afin de donner aux conseillers, venus de la région subsaharienne, un forum à l'intérieur duquel ils peuvent identifier les problèmes et discuter leurs implications. Le but principal de cette conférence était de permettre les conseillers à se mettre d'accord sur le VIH/SIDA d'une manière unanime et de proposer une amélioration de services de VCT mis à disposition des clients. Les conseillers ont identifié des problèmes considérés primordiaux. Cette communication présente ces problèmes et les recommandations liées aux améliorations proposées. Mots clés : Consultation et dépistage volontaires (VCT), rapport de conférence, Afrique subsaharienne. Sahara J Vol.1(3) 2004: 175-18

The Meaning and Challenge of Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) for Counsellors - report of the Kenyan Association of Professional Counsellors (KAPC) Conference for sub-Saharan Africa

A large number of voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) sites are being opened in sub-Saharan Africa.The services provided by these sites are playing an increasingly important role in the prevention of HIV / AIDS.The sites offer many possibilities and it is crucial that they provide the optimum services for clients. Counselling is an integral part of these services, yet it receives little attention. Counsellors need to be consulted if the optimum services are to be provided, but they are rarely consulted for their professional opinion.Accordingly, the Kenya Association of Professional Counsellors (KAPC) organised a 3-day conference in September 2002 to provide counsellors, drawn from the sub-Saharan region, with a forum to identify VCT-related issues and discuss their implications.The main aim of the conference was for counsellors to arrive at a consensual position regarding HIV / AIDS and what improvements they thought could be made for the VCT services to clients.The counsellors identified the issues that they considered important and this paper presents those issues together with recommendations regarding improvements

Epidemiological investigation of a Rift Valley fever outbreak in humans and livestock in Kenya, 2018

On the last week of May of 2018, a community-based syndromic surveillance system detected mass abortions and deaths of young livestock in northeastern Kenya. Two weeks later, Rift Valley fever (RVF) was confirmed in humans presenting with febrile illness and hemorrhagic syndrome in the same region. A joint animal and human response team carried out an investigation to characterize the outbreak and identify drivers of disease transmission. Here, we describe the outbreak investigation and findings. A total of 106 human cases were identified in the months of May and June 2018: 92% (98) and 8% (8) of these cases occurring in the northern and western regions of Kenya, respectively. Seventy-six (72%) were probable cases, and 30 (28%) were laboratory confirmed by ELISA and/or PCR. Among the confirmed cases, the median age was 27.5 years (interquartile range = 20), and 60% (18) were males. Overall, the case fatality rate was 7% (n = 8). The majority of the confirmed cases, 19 (63%), reported contact with livestock during slaughter and consumption of meat from sick animals. All confirmed cases had fever, 40% (12) presented with hemorrhagic syndrome, and 23% (7) presented with jaundice. Forty-three livestock herds with at least one suspect and/or confirmed animal case were identified. Death of young animals was reported in 93% (40) and abortions in 84% (36) of livestock herds. The outbreak is indicative of the emergence potential of RVF in traditionally high- and low-risk areas and the risk posed by zoonosis to livestock keepers