Experiences of pregnant and parenting students at a university in Gauteng province

Background: Pregnancy and parenting in tertiary institutions is a worldwide concern. The number of pregnancies among tertiary students is increasing globally. About 16 million young women between the ages of 15 years and 19 years around the world became mothers and two million girls under the age of 15 years are reported to be pregnant every year. South African universities continue to report high rates of student pregnancies, and are looking for solutions to the crisis that female students are facing. Aim: The purpose of the study was to explore the experiences of pregnant and parenting students. Setting: At a university in Gauteng province, South Africa. Methods: A qualitative, exploratory and descriptive design was used in a study that was conducted at a university in Gauteng province, South Africa. Undergraduate pregnant and parenting students were sampled purposively, and the sample size was 15 participants. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data and data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: The findings of the study produced four themes, namely emotional experience during pregnancy, academic challenges during parenting, experiences during antenatal care, and students’ resilience during pregnancy and parenting. Conclusion: Pregnant and parenting students require emotional, academic and social support from the university and other stakeholders. The university should offer on-campus medical services such as antenatal care and provide academic support for pregnant and parenting students to help them achieve their academic objectives. Contribution: This study highlights the importance of developing support programmes that focus on pregnant and parenting students in universities

Natural history of the marsupial frog Gastrotheca albolineata (Anura: Hemiphractidae) in lowland Brazilian Atlantic Forest

Natural history of the marsupial frog Gastrotheca albolineata (Anura: Hemiphractidae) in lowland Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Gastrotheca albolineata is a marsupial frog endemic to the Atlantic Forest in southeastern Brazil. It remains poorly studied in nature and is uncommon in herpetological collections. We studied the natural history of G. albolineata during a four-year period (2015 to 2019), in Ubatuba, São Paulo state, Brazil, at its southernmost distribution. Our results show that G. albolineata is arboreal, perches from low to medium heights, and breeds during the dry season without chorus aggregation. Calling activity occurs during the day but is more intense during the first half of the night. We used dorsal body markings to identify individuals. Six individuals were recaptured during the study, indicating site fidelity during the active season. The defensive repertory of G. albolineata contains seven different behaviors, including a high-pitched distress call. Egg development in the female’s dorsal pouch took at least 87 days, and fully formed froglets were born with a snout–vent length of 16 mm. Our data substantially add to the knowledge of the natural history of Brazilian marsupial frogs and can be helpful to delineate conservation strategies for elusive species such as G. albolineata.História natural da perereca marsupial Gastrotheca albolineata (Anura: Hemiphractidae) na Mata Atlântica brasileira de baixada. Gastrotheca albolineata é uma perereca marsupial endêmica da Mata Atlântica do sudeste do Brasil. Essa espécie permanece pouco estudada na natureza e é incomum em coleções herpetológicas. Estudamos a história natural de G. albolineata durante um período de quatro anos (2015 a 2019), em Ubatuba, estado de São Paulo, Brasil, em sua distribuição mais austral. Nossos resultados mostram que G. albolineata é uma espécie arborícola, que se empoleira em alturas baixo-médias e se reproduz durante a estação seca sem agregação de coro. A atividade de canto ocorre durante todo o dia, mas é mais intensa na primeira metade da noite. Utilizamos marcações dorsais naturais como identificação individual e recapturamos seis indivíduos durante o estudo, o que indicou fidelidade de sítio durante a temporada de atividade. O repertório defensivo de G. albolineata contém sete comportamentos diferentes, incluindo um canto de socorro estridente. O desenvolvimento do ovo na bolsa dorsal da fêmea levou pelo menos 87 dias, e os filhotes totalmente formados nasceram com 16 mm de comprimento rostro-cloacal. Nossos dados aumentam substancialmente o conhecimento da história natural das pererecas marsupiais brasilei

Predisposing conditions and outcome in adult patients with recurrent pneumococcal meningitis

Introduction: Recurrent pneumococcal meningitis is a relatively rare condition associated with predisposing factors. The objective of the study was to evaluate the characteristics and predisposing factors for recurrent pneumococcal meningitis in adults and compare them to patients with non-recurrent meningitis. Methods: A retrospective record review was performed of all patients hospitalized for pneumococcal meningitis in a large tertiary referral center, during a 10-year period. Results: We identified a total of 194 pneumococcal meningitis episodes in 182 patients. Thirty-eight (20%) meningitis episodes in 26 patients were recurrent. Anatomical defects and/or CSF leakage were present in 55% of recurrent pneumococcal meningitis vs. 10% of non-recurrent episodes (p<0.001). Impaired immune response was encountered in 41% non-recurrent meningitis vs 24% of recurrent episodes (p=0.02). Median age in patients with recurrent meningitis was 29 years, while patients with non-recurrent meningitis had a median age of 57 years (p<0.001). The in-hospital mortality was 3% in patients with recurrent meningitis vs 27% in patients with non-recurrent meningitis (p<0.001). An unfavorable outcome was more likely to occur in patients with advanced age and an impaired immune status. Conclusions: Patients with recurrent pneumococcal meningitis were younger, had less comorbidities and a better outcome