HIV/AIDS awareness and risk behaviour among pregnant women in Semey, Kazakhstan, 2007

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Central Asia has one of the most rapidly increasing HIV prevalence in the world. The aim of this study was to evaluate current knowledge, risk behaviour and attitudes to voluntary counselling and testing concerning HIV/AIDS among pregnant women in Semey, Kazakhstan.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We collected 226 questionnaires in a consecutive sample from a population on 520 pregnant women. The results were related to ethnicity, age and education level.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Ninety-six percent had heard about HIV.</p> <p>Positive findings were that 89% and 86% of the women were aware of the two main routes of transmission: sexual intercourses without a condom and sharing needles while injecting drugs. The women had first heard about HIV/AIDS through the media with, 52%, and at school with 40%. Only 46% and 68% of the women pointed out breastfeeding and mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy or delivery as routes of transmission. Eighty-three percent were prepared not to breastfeed their baby if they were found to be HIV positive. Slightly more, 86%, accepted the need to take medicine, but fewer women, 68%, were positive to Caesarean section. Negative findings were that only 28% answered that there are ways to protect oneself against sexually transmitted HIV/AIDS and specified that this was condom use.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The pregnant women in Semey have poor knowledge about specific mother-to-child HIV transmission and do not know about the means of reducing mother-to-child HIV infection. The information in the public health program needs to be improved. However, most of the women in Semey were positive to prevention strategies for mother-to-child transmission after hearing about it.</p

Global patient outcomes after elective surgery: prospective cohort study in 27 low-, middle- and high-income countries.

BACKGROUND: As global initiatives increase patient access to surgical treatments, there remains a need to understand the adverse effects of surgery and define appropriate levels of perioperative care. METHODS: We designed a prospective international 7-day cohort study of outcomes following elective adult inpatient surgery in 27 countries. The primary outcome was in-hospital complications. Secondary outcomes were death following a complication (failure to rescue) and death in hospital. Process measures were admission to critical care immediately after surgery or to treat a complication and duration of hospital stay. A single definition of critical care was used for all countries. RESULTS: A total of 474 hospitals in 19 high-, 7 middle- and 1 low-income country were included in the primary analysis. Data included 44 814 patients with a median hospital stay of 4 (range 2-7) days. A total of 7508 patients (16.8%) developed one or more postoperative complication and 207 died (0.5%). The overall mortality among patients who developed complications was 2.8%. Mortality following complications ranged from 2.4% for pulmonary embolism to 43.9% for cardiac arrest. A total of 4360 (9.7%) patients were admitted to a critical care unit as routine immediately after surgery, of whom 2198 (50.4%) developed a complication, with 105 (2.4%) deaths. A total of 1233 patients (16.4%) were admitted to a critical care unit to treat complications, with 119 (9.7%) deaths. Despite lower baseline risk, outcomes were similar in low- and middle-income compared with high-income countries. CONCLUSIONS: Poor patient outcomes are common after inpatient surgery. Global initiatives to increase access to surgical treatments should also address the need for safe perioperative care. STUDY REGISTRATION: ISRCTN5181700

Efficacy of Major Plant Extracts/Molecules on Field Insect Pests

Insect pests are considered the major hurdle in enhancing the production and productivity of any farming system. The use of conventional synthetic pesticides has led to the emergence of pesticide-resistant insects, environmental pollution, and negative effects on natural enemies, which have caused an ecological imbalance of the predator-prey ratio and human health hazards; therefore, eco-friendly alternative strategies are required. The plant kingdom, a rich repertoire of secondary metabolites, can be tapped as an alternative for insect pest management strategies. A number of plants have been documented to have insecticidal properties against various orders of insects in vitro by acting as antifeedants, repellents, sterilant and oviposition deterrents, etc. However, only a few plant compounds are applicable at the field level or presently commercialised. Here, we have provided an overview of the broad-spectrum insecticidal activity of plant compounds from neem, Annona, Pongamia, and Jatropha. Additionally, the impact of medicinal plants, herbs, spices, and essential oils has been reviewed briefl

Phytochemistry And The Anti-Bacterial Properties Of The Leaf Extracts Of Napolenaea imperialis (Mkpodu)

Methods: Leaf of Napolenaea imperialis was chemically screened for the presence, tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, reducing sugar, phenols, steroid, fats and oils. Result: The antimicrobial study of Napolenaea imperialis showed that the aqueous extract of this plant inhibited the growth of the test organisms in the order of klebsiella spp > Staphyoccus, aureus and Escherichia coli> Pseudomonas aeruginosa > Coliform, while the anti-microbial study of the ethanol extract of Napolenaea imperialis inhibited the growth of the test organisms in the order of klebsiella spp and Escherichia coli > Staphylococcus aureus > pseudomonas aeruginosa and Coliform. Conclusion: Its anti-microbial activities and the presence of some bioactive agents support its use in herbal medicine. Keywords: Anti bacterial properties, leafextrats, Napolenaea imperialisTropical Journal of Medical Research Vol. 12 (1) 2008: pp. 14-1

Digitale Transformation eines Traditionshauses im Luxusmodesegment : Fallstudie Zimmerli of Switzerland

Die Fallstudie des Traditionsunternehmens Zimmerli of Switzerland zeigt einen Ansatz zur digitalen Transformation des Geschäftsmodells eines KMU im Luxusmodesegment. Zusammenfassend kristallisieren sich folgende Erkenntnisse heraus: Die Eigentümerschaft bzw. das Management, im Falle geschichtsträchtiger KMU oftmals eher getrieben von Leidenschaft und Verpflichtung als von kurzfristigem Gewinndenken, muss gewillt sein, das Unternehmen für den Wandel zu öffnen und die Kontrolle in einem gewissen Masse abzugeben. Weiter ist die starke, über Jahrzehnte gepflegte Unternehmenskultur zu berücksichtigen. Es empfiehlt sich, die oftmals langjährigen Mitarbeitenden frühzeitig in den Veränderungsprozess einzubeziehen und eine offene Kommunikations- und Feedbackkultur zu etablieren. Ihre Expertise und Kooperationsbereitschaft ist gerade im Luxussegment angesichts der hohen Qualitätsansprüche an Produkte, Dienstleistungen und Erlebnisse besonders wichtig. Schließlich sollte neues Know-how nicht in Form eines „Digitalisierungs-Silos“ in bestehende Strukturen gezwängt, sondern durch den Einbezug externer Experten und den internen Aufbau von Wissen und Fähigkeiten organisch in die sich wandelnde Organisation einfließen. Und nicht zuletzt sollten, neben der Bewahrung der wertvollen Marke, vor allem die Kundinnen und Kunden mit ihren veränderten Bedürfnissen und Erwartungen im Zentrum der Veränderung stehen und physische wie digitale Berührungspunkte zu einem konsistenten und einzigartigen Markenerlebnis zusammenfließen

Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV infection: Views and perceptions about swallowing nevirapine in rural Lilongwe, Malawi

Background In 2006 the World Health Organization described the status of prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) service implementation as unacceptable, with an urgent need for a renewed public health approach to improve access. For PMTCT to be effective it needs to be accessible, acceptable and affordable; however research in Africa into accessibility, uptake and acceptability of PMTCT services has been predominately urban based and usually focusing on women who deliver in hospitals. The importance of involving other community members to strengthen both PMTCT uptake and adherence, and to support women emotionally, has been advocated. Urban men's and rural traditional birth attendants' (TBAs) involvement have improved uptake of HIV testing and of nevirapine. Methods A qualitative study was carried out in a rural district of Malawi's central region to explore the views about and perceptions of PMTCT antiretroviral treatment. Semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions were held with antenatal and postnatal women, fathers, grandmothers, TBAs, community leaders and PMTCT health workers. Results Two broad themes of findings emerged: those that relate to the hospital PMTCT service, and those that relate to the community. Trust in the hospital was strong, but distance, transport costs and perceived harsh, threatening health worker attitudes were barriers to access. Grandmothers were perceived to have influence on the management of labour, unlike fathers, but both were suggested as key people to ensure that babies are brought to the hospital for nevirapine syrup. TBAs were seen as powerful, local, and important community members, but some as uneducated. Conclusion PMTCT was seen as a community issue in which more than the mother alone can be involved. To support access to PMTCT, especially for rural women, there is need for further innovation and implementation research on involving TBAs in some aspects of PMTCT services, and in negotiating with women which community members, if any, they would like to support them in ensuring that newborn babies receive nevirapine