| 1. |
|
|
| 2. |
- Audet, Carolyn M., et al.
(author)
-
An unrecognized key population? : Traditional treatment practices associated with HIV risk among traditional healers in rural South Africa
- 2020
-
In: AIDS. - : Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. - 0269-9370 .- 1473-5571. ; 34:15, s. 2313-2317
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: To understand the risk of HIV acquisition through occupational exposure among rural South African traditional healers, notably via the practice of traditional skin incisions with razors.Design: A random sample of traditional healers living in South Africa participated in a cross-sectional survey that included a rapid HIV test.Setting: Rural Bushbuckridge district of Mpumalanga, South Africa.Participants: Traditional healers.Intervention: Pretest counseling, posttest counseling, and referral to care if HIV seropositive.Main outcome measure(s): HIV infection.Results: Among healers who reported a previous positive test result or accepted an HIV test (96%), HIV prevalence was 30% (95% confidence interval: 23–37%). During their careers, 98% of healers reported conducting at least one ‘vaccination’ (as traditional incisions are called), 32% reported always using gloves when conducting these procedures, 29 (14%) reported patient blood touching their bare skin. Healers who reported exposure to patient blood had a higher HIV prevalence than their nonexposed colleagues (adjusted risk ratio: 2.35, 95% confidence interval: 1.55–3.56, P = 0.001).Conclusion: Nearly all traditional healers are routinely performing minimally invasive skin incisions that could expose them to patient blood. The lack of training and access to personal protective equipment increase their risk of acquisition of blood–borne pathogens, including HIV. Given the widespread practice of traditional skin incisions across southern Africa, and the higher levels of HIV among traditional healers exposed to patient blood, it is likely that traditional healers are a hitherto unrecognized key population at disproportionate risk of acquiring HIV.
|
|
| 3. |
- Ikuteyijo, Olutoyin O., et al.
(author)
-
Demand and supply of adolescent and young adult’s sexual and reproductive health services during COVID-19 in sub-Saharan Africa : a scoping review
- 2024
-
In: International Journal of Population Studies. - : AccScience Publishing. - 2424-8150 .- 2424-8606. ; 10:1
-
Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The COVID-19 pandemic and its associated containment strategies have significantly impacted the logistics of supplying sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services to adolescents and young adults (AYA) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Studies conducted in the region indicate an increase in sexual activity, particularly among young people, during the pandemic. However, the impact of these changes on their utilization of SRH services remains unclear. This scoping review aims to synthesize the available evidence on the impact of COVID-19 on the SRH behavior and service utilization of AYA. This review focuses on examining the demand and supply of SRH for AYA during the COVID-19 lockdown period (January 2020 – December 2021). Following the Arksey & O’Malley (2005) procedure and the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Reviewer’s Manual (2020), the review encompasses comprehensive search strategies, analysis, and reporting of results. The search for relevant articles was conducted across various databases, including Medline Complete, Africa-Wide, SocINDEX, Academic Search Complete (all through EBSCOhost), Public Health, Social Science & Sociology databases, the Middle East & Africa Database (all through ProQuest), and Web of Science. Articles published between January 2020 and December 2021 were included in this review. The studies discussed in this review shed light on the discrepancies in the demand for and supply of SRH services during the COVID-19 pandemic, exposing a substantial gap in addressing the specific SRH needs of AYA. This review also examines the strategies adopted by countries in SSA to mitigate these effects. Several countries in SSA demonstrated resilience as health providers fulfilled their role, while AYA sought alternatives to mitigate the shortage in the supply chain for SRH services and commodities, often resorting to alternative medicine. The findings underscore the urgency of further research to address the risks imposed by COVID-19 on the utilization of SRH services by AYA in SSA. The evidence presented in this review can inform strategic efforts to ensure the availability and accessibility of SRH services for AYA during any unforeseen emergency or future pandemic.
|
|
