'Milking the Cow': Young Women's Constructions of Identity, Gender, Power and Risk in Transactional and Cross-Generational Sexual Relationships

This report presents the findings of a qualitative study carried out in Maputo, Mozambique, among women engaged in cross-generational transactional sex. Cross-generational sex is contributing significantly to the spread of HIV/AIDS in Mozambique and as such is a key area for behaviour change interventinos, although few organisations are currently addressing the issue. The study reveals thta young women engaged in cross-generational and transactional sex have a complex sexual network involving multiple partners, including both transactional and non-transactional relationships.The study was carried out between October and November 2004, using the PEER (participatory ethnographic evaluation and research) method. PEER is an innovative approach to programme research, evaluation and design, based upon training members of the target group (peer researchers) to carry out in-depth qualitative interviews among their peers. Twenty young women in the age group 16-25 years, living in and around central Maputo were recruited as peer researchers. Each peer researcher interviewed three peers and conducted three separate interviews with each peer, with a total of 180 interviews carried out

Visualisering av geografiske data som varierer over tid

This task creates a web application that visualizes data that varies geograph- ically and over time on a digital map. The development used the PERN as a technology stack and was implemented accordingly. The application uses Mapbox as a digital map, which also has great navigation options in terms of usability. The visualization dealt with data from Statistics Norway and MET which gave real values that were visualized over Norway. Several principles from both User-Centered Design and Visualization Pipeline were practiced.This task creates a web application that visualizes data that varies geograph- ically and over time on a digital map. The development used the PERN as a technology stack and was implemented accordingly. The application uses Mapbox as a digital map, which also has great navigation options in terms of usability. The visualization dealt with data from Statistics Norway and MET which gave real values that were visualized over Norway. Several principles from both User-Centered Design and Visualization Pipeline were practiced

Visualisering av geografiske data som varierer over tid

This task creates a web application that visualizes data that varies geograph- ically and over time on a digital map. The development used the PERN as a technology stack and was implemented accordingly. The application uses Mapbox as a digital map, which also has great navigation options in terms of usability. The visualization dealt with data from Statistics Norway and MET which gave real values that were visualized over Norway. Several principles from both User-Centered Design and Visualization Pipeline were practiced.This task creates a web application that visualizes data that varies geograph- ically and over time on a digital map. The development used the PERN as a technology stack and was implemented accordingly. The application uses Mapbox as a digital map, which also has great navigation options in terms of usability. The visualization dealt with data from Statistics Norway and MET which gave real values that were visualized over Norway. Several principles from both User-Centered Design and Visualization Pipeline were practiced

Visualisering av geografiske data som varierer over tid

This task creates a web application that visualizes data that varies geograph- ically and over time on a digital map. The development used the PERN as a technology stack and was implemented accordingly. The application uses Mapbox as a digital map, which also has great navigation options in terms of usability. The visualization dealt with data from Statistics Norway and MET which gave real values that were visualized over Norway. Several principles from both User-Centered Design and Visualization Pipeline were practiced.This task creates a web application that visualizes data that varies geograph- ically and over time on a digital map. The development used the PERN as a technology stack and was implemented accordingly. The application uses Mapbox as a digital map, which also has great navigation options in terms of usability. The visualization dealt with data from Statistics Norway and MET which gave real values that were visualized over Norway. Several principles from both User-Centered Design and Visualization Pipeline were practiced

A combination strategy for enhancing linkage to and retention in HIV care among adults newly diagnosed with HIV in Mozambique: study protocol for a site-randomized implementation science study

Despite the extraordinary scale up of HIV prevention, care and treatment services in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) over the past decade, the overall effectiveness of HIV programs has been significantly hindered by high levels of attrition across the HIV care continuum. Data from “real-life” settings are needed on the effectiveness of an easy to deliver package of services that can improve overall performance of the HIV care continuum. We are conducting an implementation science study using a two-arm cluster site-randomized design to determine the effectiveness of a combination intervention strategy (CIS) using feasible, evidence-based, and practical interventions—including (1) point-of-care (POC) CD4 count testing, (2) accelerated antiretroviral therapy initiation for eligible individuals, and (3) SMS reminders for linkage to and retention in care—as compared to the standard of care (SOC) in Mozambique in improving linkage and retention among adults following HIV diagnosis. A pre-post intervention two-sample design is nested within the CIS arm to assess the incremental effectiveness of the CIS plus financial incentives (CIS + FI) compared to the CIS without FI on study outcomes. Randomization is done at the level of the study site, defined as a primary health facility. Five sites are included from the City of Maputo and five from Inhambane Province. Target enrollment is a total of 2,250 adults: 750 in the SOC arm, 750 in the CIS cohort of the intervention arm and 750 in the CIS + FI cohort of the intervention arm (average of 150 participants per site). Participants are followed for 12 months from time of HIV testing to ascertain a combined endpoint of linkage to care within 1 month after testing and retention in care 12 months from HIV test. Cost-effectiveness analyses of CIS compared to SOC and CIS + FI compared to CIS will also be conducted. Study findings will provide evidence on the effectiveness of a CIS and the incremental effectiveness of a CIS + FI in a “real-life” service delivery system in a SSA country severely impacted by HIV. Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT0193008

COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy in low- and middle-income countries

Widespread acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines is crucial for achieving sufficient immunization coverage to end the global pandemic, yet few studies have investigated COVID-19 vaccination attitudes in lower-income countries, where large-scale vaccination is just beginning. We analyze COVID-19 vaccine acceptance across 15 survey samples covering 10 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in Asia, Africa and South America, Russia (an upper-middle-income country) and the United States, including a total of 44,260 individuals. We find considerably higher willingness to take a COVID-19 vaccine in our LMIC samples (mean 80.3%; median 78%; range 30.1 percentage points) compared with the United States (mean 64.6%) and Russia (mean 30.4%). Vaccine acceptance in LMICs is primarily explained by an interest in personal protection against COVID-19, while concern about side effects is the most common reason for hesitancy. Health workers are the most trusted sources of guidance about COVID-19 vaccines. Evidence from this sample of LMICs suggests that prioritizing vaccine distribution to the Global South should yield high returns in advancing global immunization coverage. Vaccination campaigns should focus on translating the high levels of stated acceptance into actual uptake. Messages highlighting vaccine efficacy and safety, delivered by healthcare workers, could be effective for addressing any remaining hesitancy in the analyzed LMICs.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Mozambique (2008): HIV/AIDS TRaC Study Among Men and Women Aged 15-35 in Gaza. Round One.

The current study is the second TRaC study for HIV interventions and was conducted in three provinces: Gaza, Sofala, and Zambezia. This study is intended to provide localized evidence for decision-making for social marketing of Jeito condoms, and help measure the impact of PSI interventions and activities. The current study is based on a cross-sectional survey conducted among male and female respondents in the city of Quelimane in the Zambezia Province. The survey used a stratified multi-stage cluster design. Results are presented in standard PSI Dashboard form

Mozambique (2009): Painting the Border - Ethnographic Study of HIV Risk and Prevention at the Ressano Garcia Border Post Maputo Province, Mozambique

PSI's primary objective in conducting the study was to collect information to improve the impact of its behavior change interventions through the development of a more in-depth understanding of sexual behavior and networks in a location where different groups engaging in risky sexual practices intersect. Specifically, the study aimed to identify border populations at high risk of HIV infection , describe the profile of these groups with regards to risky sexual practices, describe the social networks that exist in terms of hierarchy and power dynamics, and identify the key factors that may influence high risk behavior

Mozambique (2005): MAP Study Evaluating Coverage and Quality of Coverage of PSI Condoms and Bednets in Beira. First Round.

Project MAP (Measuring Access and Performance) aims to increase the coverage, quality, equity of access and efficiency of social marketing product and service delivery systems. Project MAP was undertaken to determine the coverage and quality of coverage of PSI's JeitO condoms and to produce baseline estimates on bednet availability in the urban district of Beira, Mozambique, in November 2005.The supervision areas in which data was collected are high-risk areas for HIV/AIDS and residential areas (for condom coverage), and market areas (for bednet coverage). Product availability was assessed in outlets in all markets and in all hotzones in Beira, while the Lot Quality Assurance Sampling technique (LQAS) was used to draw a sample of 19 urban or peri-urban blocks, representing the residential areas of the district