An investigation of factors associated with the health and well-being of HIV-infected or HIV-affected older people in rural South Africa

BackgroundDespite the severe impact of HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, the health of older people aged 50+ is often overlooked owing to the dearth of data on the direct and indirect effects of HIV on older people's health status and well-being. The aim of this study was to examine correlates of health and well-being of HIV-infected older people relative to HIV-affected people in rural South Africa, defined as participants with an HIV-infected or death of an adult child due to HIV-related cause. MethodsData were collected within the Africa Centre surveillance area using instruments adapted from the World Health Organization (WHO) Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE). A stratified random sample of 422 people aged 50+ participated. We compared the health correlates of HIV-infected to HIV-affected participants using ordered logistic regressions. Health status was measured using three instruments: disability index, quality of life and composite health score. ResultsMedian age of the sample was 60 years (range 50-94). Women HIV-infected (aOR 0.15, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.08-0.29) and HIV-affected (aOR 0.20, 95% CI 0.08-0.50), were significantly less likely than men to be in good functional ability. Women's adjusted odds of being in good overall health state were similarly lower than men's; while income and household wealth status were stronger correlates of quality of life. HIV-infected participants reported better functional ability, quality of life and overall health state than HIV-affected participants. Discussion and Conclusions The enhanced healthcare received as part of anti-retroviral treatment as well as the considerable resources devoted to HIV care appear to benefit the overall well-being of HIV-infected older people; whereas similar resources have not been devoted to the general health needs of HIV uninfected older people. Given increasing numbers of older people, policy and programme interventions are urgently needed to holistically meet the health and well-being needs of older people beyond the HIV-related care system. <br/

Comparative population genomics of manta rays has global implications for management

Understanding population connectivity and genetic diversity is of fundamental importance to conservation. However, in globally threatened marine megafauna, challenges remain due to their elusive nature and wide-ranging distributions. As overexploitation continues to threaten biodiversity across the globe, such knowledge gaps compromise both the suitability and effectiveness of management actions. Here, we use a comparative framework to investigate genetic differentiation and diversity of manta rays, one of the most iconic yet vulnerable groups of elasmobranchs on the planet. Despite their recent divergence, we show how oceanic manta rays (Mobula birostris) display significantly higher heterozygosity than reef manta rays (Mobula alfredi) and that M. birostris populations display higher connectivity worldwide. Through inferring modes of colonisation, we reveal how both contemporary and historical forces have likely influenced these patterns, with important implications for population management. Our findings highlight the potential for fisheries to disrupt population dynamics at both local and global scales and therefore have direct relevance for international conservation of marine species

Phylogenomics and species delimitation for effective conservation of manta and devil rays

Practical biodiversity conservation relies on delineation of biologically meaningful units. Manta and devil rays (Mobulidae) are threatened worldwide, yet morphological similarities and a succession of recent taxonomic changes impede the development of an effective conservation strategy. Here, we generate genome‐wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data from a geographically and taxonomically representative set of manta and devil ray samples to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships and evaluate species boundaries under the general lineage concept. We show that nominal species units supported by alternative data sources constitute independently evolving lineages, and find robust evidence for a putative new species of manta ray in the Gulf of Mexico. Additionally, we uncover substantial incomplete lineage sorting indicating that rapid speciation together with standing variation in ancestral populations has driven phylogenetic uncertainty within Mobulidae. Finally, we detect cryptic diversity in geographically distinct populations, demonstrating that management below the species level may be warranted in certain species. Overall, our study provides a framework for molecular genetic species delimitation that is relevant to wide‐ranging taxa of conservation concern, and highlights the potential for genomic data to support effective management, conservation and law enforcement strategies

Research Priorities to Support Effective Manta and Devil Ray Conservation

Manta and devil rays are filter-feeding elasmobranchs that are found circumglobally in tropical and subtropical waters. Although relatively understudied for most of the Twentieth century, public awareness and scientific research on these species has increased dramatically in recent years. Much of this attention has been in response to targeted fisheries, international trade in mobulid products, and a growing concern over the fate of exploited populations. Despite progress in mobulid research, major knowledge gaps still exist, hindering the development of effective management and conservation strategies. We assembled 30 leaders and emerging experts in the fields of mobulid biology, ecology, and conservation to identify pressing knowledge gaps that must be filled to facilitate improved science-based management of these vulnerable species. We highlight focal research topics in the subject areas of taxonomy and diversity, life history, reproduction and nursery areas, population trends, bycatch and fisheries, spatial dynamics and movements, foraging and diving, pollution and contaminants, and sub-lethal impacts. Mobulid rays remain a poorly studied group, and therefore our list of important knowledge gaps is extensive. However, we hope that this identification of high priority knowledge gaps will stimulate and focus future mobulid research

Early years' migration in rural South Africa

Infancy represents a stage of the life course where the circumstances of migration are poorly understood, particularly in developing country contexts. In South Africa, infants often have complex living arrangements as care responsibilities are shared between multiple family members. Low marriage rates and high levels of male and female migration have contributed to dynamic life trajectories amongst parents. This paper explores the relationships between propensity to migrate in the early years and parental circumstances and life events, wider kin networks, housing quality and household composition. Discrete time event history modelling is employed to identify factors associated with migration in the first two years of life, using data from a demographic surveillance system in rural northern KwaZulu Natal. The results indicate that 19% of children born in the surveillance area between 2005 and 2008 migrated at least once by their second birthday. However, only a minority of the children who moved (17%) were engaged in whole household migration. Household migration was most common amongst children born into small two-parent households. The majority (84%) of infants who did not migrate with all other members of their household retained social membership of their initial household. This form of migration was associated with having social ties to other households. The influence of parental circumstances varied by whether children shared household membership with both parents or their mother only at birth. The findings contribute to understanding the contexts of early years migration and are an important step in unravelling the relationships between exposure to migration and wellbeing across childhoo

Understanding children’s involvement in migration &amp; implications for accessing services in rural South Africa

Migration is an important yet unstudied indicator of children’s social and physical environments in many low and middle countries. In rural South Africa, unaccompanied parental migration, as well as children’s own migration to access caregivers and educational opportunities, support family households and/or accompany migrant family members, are commonplace childhood experiences. However, quantitative analyses of children’s migration are scarce, limiting the development of policies to support mobile families and the design of studies that seek to disentangle the circumstances in which children benefit from migration and when they may be made vulnerable. This paper uses longitudinal data from a demographic surveillance system in rural KwaZulu-Natal to describe children’s direct experiences of migration: when children themselves migrate, and children’s indirect experiences of migration: when parent(s) migrate without children. The results show that 12% of children (0-17 years) migrated at least once in a one year period; on a third of these occasions the child was ‘unaccompanied’. Over one quarter (28%) of children were indirectly exposed to migration by parent(s) who are members of their household out-migrating. However for just over half of children one or both of their parents were not known to be deceased but not considered members of their household, highlighting the challenges associated with identifying children of migrant parents in this context. Based on these findings, the paper discusses methodological considerations for family migration studies in populations with high levels of both adult and child mobility and highlights their significance for promoting access to education and child welfare services in South Africa