HIV disclosure, sexual negotiation and male involvement in prevention-of-mother-to-child-transmission in South Africa

HIV-seroconversion during pregnancy is a serious concern throughout South Africa, where an estimated 35 to 40% of pregnant women have HIV/AIDS and drop-out is high at all stages of the prevention-of-mother-to-child-transmission (PMTCT) process. The likelihood of PMTCT success may be linked to partner support, yet male involvement in antenatal care remains low. This qualitative study examined the influence of pregnant couples' expectations, experiences and perceptions on sexual communication and male involvement in PMTCT. A total of 119 couples participated in a comprehensive intervention in 12 antenatal clinics throughout South Africa. Data were collected between December 2010 to June 2011 and analysed using a grounded theory approach. Findings point to the importance of sexual communication as a factor influencing PMTCT male involvement. Analysis of themes lends support to improving communication between couples, encouraging dialogue among men and increasing male involvement in PMTCT to bridge the gap between knowledge and sexual behaviour change.

L-band radar soil moisture retrieval without ancillary information

A radar-only retrieval algorithm for soil moisture mapping is applied to L-band scatterometer measurements from the Aquarius. The algorithm is based on a nonlinear relation between L-band backscatter and volumetric soil moisture and does not require ancillary information on the surface, e.g. land classification, vegetation canopy, surface roughness, etc. It is based on the definition of three limiting cases or end-members: 1) smooth bare soil, 2) rough bare soil, and 3) maximum vegetation condition. In this study, an estimation method is proposed for the end-member parameters that is iterative and only uses space-borne measurements. The major advantages of the algorithm include an analytic formulation (direct inversion possible), and the fact that there is no requirement for ancillary information. Ancillary data often mis-classify the surface and the parameterizations linking surface classification to model parameter values are often highly uncertain.The retrieval algorithm is tested using three years of space-borne scatterometer observations from the Aquarius/SAC-D. Retrieved soil moisture accuracy is assessed in several ways: comparison of global spatial patterns with other available soil moisture products (two reanalysis modeling products and retrievals based on the Aquarius radiometer), extended triple collocation and time series analysis over selected target areas. In general, low bias and standard deviation are observed with levels comparable to independent radiometer-based retrievals. The errors however increase across areas with high vegetation density. The results are promising and applicable to forthcoming L-band radar missions such as SMAP-NASA (2015) and SAOCOM-CONAE (2016).Fil: Bruscantini, Cintia Alicia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciónes Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Astronomía y Física del Espacio. - Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Astronomía y Física del Espacio; ArgentinaFil: Konings, Alexandra C.. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology; Estados UnidosFil: Narvekar, Parag S.. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology; Estados UnidosFil: Mccoll, Kaighin A.. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology; Estados UnidosFil: Entekhabi, Dara. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology; Estados UnidosFil: Grings, Francisco Matias. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciónes Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Astronomía y Física del Espacio. - Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Astronomía y Física del Espacio; ArgentinaFil: Karszenbaum, Haydee. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciónes Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Astronomía y Física del Espacio. - Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Astronomía y Física del Espacio; Argentin

HIV disclosure, sexual negotiation and male involvement in prevention-of-mother-to-child-transmission in South Africa

HIV-seroconversion during pregnancy is a serious concern throughout South Africa, where an estimated 35 to 40% of pregnant women have HIV/AIDS and drop-out is high at all stages of the prevention-of-mother-to-child-transmission (PMTCT) process. The likelihood of PMTCT success may be linked to partner support, yet male involvement in antenatal care remains low. This qualitative study examined the influence of pregnant couples’ expectations, experiences and perceptions on sexual communication and male involvement in PMTCT. A total of 119 couples participated in a comprehensive intervention in 12 antenatal clinics throughout South Africa. Data were collected between December 2010 to June 2011 and analysed using a grounded theory approach. Findings point to the importance of sexual communication as a factor influencing PMTCT male involvement. Analysis of themes lends support to improving communication between couples, encouraging dialogue among men and increasing male involvement in PMTCT to bridge the gap between knowledge and sexual behaviour change