Examining psychosocial correlates of physical activity and sedentary behavior in youth with and without HIV.

The objectives of this study were to examine differences in physical activity behaviors as a function of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status and sex, to test differences in physical activity self-efficacy (PASE), body weight satisfaction (BWS), and enjoyment of physical activity as a function of HIV status, and to determine if PASE, BWS, and enjoyment are associated with daily physical activity (daily PA), muscle strengthening activities, and sedentary behavior of youth with and without HIV. A total of 250 HIV positive (HIV+) and HIV negative (HIV-) youth from Botswana aged 12-23 years (Mean = 17.87, SD = 2.24) participated in the study. The HIV+ group (n = 88) was recruited from a previous 12-month antiretroviral therapy (ART) and nutrition intervention study. The HIV- group (n = 162) was randomly selected from public junior and senior (secondary) high schools in and around Gaborone. Participants' PASE, BWS, enjoyment of physical activity, daily PA, muscle strengthening, body mass index (BMI), and sedentary behavior were obtained using items from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) showed that the HIV- group (M = 1.20, SE = 0.06, CI = 1.08 to 1.32) had significantly higher daily PA than the HIV+ group (M = 0.99, SE = 0.08, CI = 0.82 to 1.15). The HIV- group (M = 0.91, SE = 0.06, CI = 0.79 to 1.03) also reported participating significantly more in muscle strengthening activities than the HIV+ group (M = 0.63, SD = 0.08, CI = 0.47 to 0.78). Multiple regression analyses showed that higher PASE (p < .001) and greater enjoyment of PA (p < .01) were predictive of higher daily PA. HIV- participants had higher PASE but lower BWS compared to HIV+ participants. Sex and age differences were observed in muscle strengthening activities and sedentary behavior. This study supports previous findings on the association of efficacy beliefs to daily PA and muscle strengthening activities. The findings have implications for PA interventions aimed at health promotion and mitigation of the effects of living with HIV/AIDS

Body Image Dissatisfaction Is Increased in Male andOverweight/Obese Adolescents in Botswana

Introduction:The purpose of this study was to examine linkages between obesity, physical activity, and body image dissatisfaction,with consideration of socioeconomic status (SES) and urbanization in adolescents in Botswana. Materials and Methods.A nationally representative, cross-sectional survey in 707 secondary school students included measured height and weight to determine overweight (OW) or obesity (OB) using World Health Organization standards; physical activity (PA) using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire; and body image satisfaction using the Body Ideals Questionnaire. SES was described by private school versus public school attendance. Results and Discussion. OW/OB students felt farther from ideal and greater dissatisfaction with their weight and body proportions than optimal weight students. Boys felt greater difference from ideal and more dissatisfaction with muscle tone, chest size, and strength than girls. Lower SES students and those from rural villages had more minutes of PA than higher SES or urban students. In this rapidly developing African country, these trends reflect the nutrition transition and offer opportunity to motivate OW/OB students and boys for PA as a health promotion obesity prevention behavior. Conclusions. As urbanization and improved SES are desirable and likely to continue, the public health system will be challenged to prevent obesity while preserving a healthy body image

Association between socioeconomic status indicators and obesity in adolescent students in B otswana, an A frican country in rapid nutrition transition

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine two separate socioeconomic status (SES) indicators of obesity in Botswana, an African country that has experienced rapid economic development and where the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome is high. Methods: We conducted a nationally representative, cross-sectional study of 707 adolescent secondary school students in Botswana. Measured height and weight were used to compute World Health Organization age- and sex-specific body mass index z-scores. SES was described by private vs. public school attendance and a survey of assets/facilities within the home. Results: Overall, private school students and those with more assets had a higher prevalence of overweight and obesity than public school students (private: 27.1%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 20.4-34.5; public: 13.1%, 95% CI: 9.8-16.8) and those with fewer assets (more assets: 20.0%, 95% CI: 16.0-24.4; fewer assets: 11.2%, 95% CI: 6.6-16.9). Conclusions: Public health interventions in developing countries may need to be targeted differently to low or high SES individuals in order to treat already high obesity rates in higher SES groups and to prevent the development of obesity in lower SES communities undergoing economic transition

DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF MICROSATELLITE MARKERS IN MARAMA BEAN

Marama bean [ Tylosema esculentum (Burchell) Schreiber] occurs naturally in arid parts of southern Africa. Due to the high nutrient value of the seeds and tubers; richness in protein, oil and starch; it is a potential crop for arid areas where few conventional crops can survive. Microsatellites are becoming the molecular marker system of choice because they are multiallelic and generally more informative. Recently, the development of SSR enrichment techniques has increased the efficiency of SSR characterisation in new species. The aim of the study was to develop SSR’s for detection of polymorphisms in Marama bean. The microsatellite regions of the genome were the main focus for potential to be used in Marama bean genetic diversity studies. Microsatellite loci were isolated from the Marama bean germplasm using a modified FIASCO enrichment technique. Nine Marama bean microsatellite libraries, enriched for (AAG)7, (GTT)7, (AGG)7, (GAG)7, (CA)10, (CT)10, (TCC)7, (CA)15 and (CAC)7, were created. Of the 80 primers designed, 76% were able to detect polymorphism. Four of the SSR’s were used for a genetic variation analysis and have proved to be useful and informative for genetic diversity studies.Le haricot Marama [ Tylosema esculentum (Burchell) Schreiber] est produit naturellement en milieux arides de l’Afrique du Sud. Etant donné la valeur nutritionnelle des ses graines, carottes, sa richesse en protein, en huiles et amidon, le haricot Marama est considéré comme une culture potentielle pour des milieux arides où peu de cultures conventionnelles peuvent survivre. Dans ces conditions, les microsatellites deviennent de plus en plus un système moléculaire de choix parce que elles sont multialléliques et généralement plus informatives. Récemment, le développement des techniques d’enrichissement SSR a augmenté l’efficacité de la caractérisation de SSR dans de nouvelles espèces. L’objet de cette étude était de développer SSR pour la détection du polymorphisme dans le haricot Marama. Les régions microsatellitaires du génome étaient le principal point d’intérêt pour des études de la diversité génétique du haricot Marama. Les microsatellites loci étaient isolés du germoplasme du haricot Marama en en utilisant une technique d’enrichissement FIASCO modifié. Neuf librairies microsatellitaires du haricot Marama, enrichies pour (AAG)7, (GTT)7, (AGG)7, (GAG)7, (CA)10, (CT)10, (TCC)7, (CA)15 et (CAC)7, étaient créées. Parmi les 80 désignées, 76% étaient capables de détecter le polymorphisme. Quatre des SSR étaient utilisées pour une analyse de la variation génétique et ont prouvé être plus utiles et informatives pour des études de la diversité génétique