Factors shaping prayer frequency among 9- to 11-year-olds

This paper begins by reviewing the evidence from international research concerning the personal and social correlates of prayer frequency during childhood and adolescence. Overall these data continue to support the view that young people who pray not only report higher levels of personal wellbeing but also report higher levels of pro-social attitudes. These findings raise a research question of particular relevance within church schools regarding the factors that predict higher levels of prayer activity among students. The Student Voice Project offers data that can illuminate this research question. Among the 3,101 9- to 11-year old students who participated in the project 11% prayed daily, 9% at least once a week, 32% sometimes, 11% once or twice a year, and 37% never. The present paper tests the power of four sets of predictor variables to account for individual differences in prayer frequency among these students: personal factors (age and sex), psychological factors (using the three dimensional model of personality proposed by Eysenck), church attendance (self, mother, and father), and family discussion about prayer (mother, father, and grandparents). Multiple regression analyses identified the discussion of prayer with the mother as the single most important predictor. These findings locate the development of the practice of prayer within the home, even more than within the church

Serum S100B measurement as a diagnostic tool and prognosis predictor in head trauma in resource limited settings: insights from Harare, Zimbabwe

Introduction: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) as a major cause of global morbidity and mortality. CT scan and MRI are very useful tools in the evaluation of TBI yet in resource limited settings are mostly unavailable or expensive and are therefore not readily available for the evaluation of this condition. Serum S100B proteins levels were evaluated in this study as an additional tool for TBI diagnosis and the outcomes were observed.Materials and Methods: Using an ethically approved protocol, we recruited 90 consenting individuals: 50 TBI suspects (HIP), 20 healthy individuals (AHP) and 20 with non-neurological conditions (NNCP) from Parirenyatwa Hospital, Harare Zimbabwe. Serum S100B levels were determined by an ELISA kit. Questionnaires and clinical examination records were used to obtain participants’ demographic data.Results: Participants’ median age was 33.0 interquartile range (IQR): 28-43 years, with more males than females being recruited (p=0.001). The major cause of TBI in this study was motor vehicle crushes (78%). Median S100B levels were significantly higher in TBI suspects compared to AHP and NNCP. High levels of serum S100 were associated with a higher mortality. A CT scan result positive for neurological damage and severe head injury based on the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) was associated with high serum S100B levels (p=0.003 and p=0.002 respectively). A serum S100B above 350pg/ml with a median of 442pg/ml was uniformly fatal.Conclusion: Despite the small sample size, our study highlights the potential of S100B measurements in diagnosis and prognosis prediction for TBI cases in settings where CT scan is unavailable and or unaffordable

Outcomes of community-based differentiated models of multi-month dispensing of antiretroviral medication among stable HIV-infected patients in Lesotho : a cluster randomised non-inferiority trial protocol

CITATION: Faturiyele, I. O., et al. 2018. Outcomes of community-based differentiated models of multi-month dispensing of antiretroviral medication among stable HIV-infected patients in Lesotho : a cluster randomised non-inferiority trial protocol. BMC Public Health, 18:1069, doi:10.1186/s12889-018-5961-0.The original publication is available at https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.comBackground: Current World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines recommend early initiation of HIV positive patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) irrespective of their clinical or immunological status known as the test and start approach. Lesotho, like many other countries introduced this approach in 2016 as a strategy to reach epidemic control. There will be rapidly growing number of HIV-infected individuals initiating treatment leading to practical challenges on health systems such as congestion, long waiting time for patients and limited time to provide quality services to patients. Differentiated models of ART delivery is an innovative solution that helps to increase access to care, while reducing the burden on existing health systems. Ultimately this model will help to achieve retention and viral suppression. We describe a demonstration study designed to evaluate a community-based differentiated model of multi-month dispensing (MMD) approaches of ART among stable HIV patients in Lesotho. Methods: This study will be a three-arm cluster randomised trial, which will enrol approximately 5760 HIV-infected individuals who are stable on ART in 30 selected clusters. The clusters, which are health facilities, will be randomly assigned into the following differentiated model of care arms: (i) 3 monthly ART supply at facilities (Control), (ii) 3 monthly ART supply through community ART groups (CAGs) and (iii) 6 monthly ART supply through community ART distribution points (CAD). Primary outcomes are retention in care and virologic suppression, and secondary outcomes include feasibility and cost effectiveness. Discussion: Important lessons will be learnt to allow for improved implementation of such demonstration projects, including various needs for reliable supply of medication, access to quality clinical data including access to viral loads (VLs) results, frameworks to support lay worker cadre, involvement of community stakeholders, and reliable data systems including records of key indicators. MMD will have positive implications including improved retention, virologic suppression, convenience and access to medication.https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-018-5961-0Publisher's versio