[Research Articles] A stepped-wedge randomized trial and qualitative survey of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis uptake in the Eswatini population
Clinical trials have shown that antiretroviral drugs used as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) are highly effective for preventing HIV acquisition. PrEP efforts, including in sub-Saharan Africa, have almost exclusively focused on certain priority groups, particularly female sex workers, men having sex with men, pregnant women, serodiscordant couples, and young women. As part of a PrEP demonstration project involving the general population at six primary health care facilities in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), we conducted a randomized trial of a health care facility–based PrEP promotion package designed to increase PrE...
Source: Science Translational Medicine - September 22, 2020 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Geldsetzer, P., Bärnighausen, K., Hettema, A., McMahon, S. A., Dalal, S., Chase, R. P., Oldenburg, C. E., Kohler, S., Chen, S., Dlamini, P., Mavuso, M., Hughey, A. B., Matse, S., Bärnighausen, T. Tags: Research Articles Source Type: research

The spectrum of sexual transaction: representations in young Africans' HIV-themed creative narratives.
Abstract Sexual transaction, or any exchange of financial or material goods for sex, contributes to the disproportionate HIV burden among young women aged 15-24 years in sub-Saharan Africa. We analysed representations of sexual transactions in a sample of 363 narratives about HIV written by young Africans. The narratives were written at 4 time points (1997, 2005, 2008, 2014) by authors aged 10-24 years in urban and rural areas of Senegal, Burkina Faso, South-east Nigeria, Kenya and Eswatini, formerly Swaziland. We combined three analytical approaches: descriptive statistics of quantifiable characterist...
Source: Culture, Health and Sexuality - April 7, 2020 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Singleton R, Sabben G, Winskell K Tags: Cult Health Sex Source Type: research

Prevalence of abnormal glucose metabolism among adults attending an outpatient department at a tertiary referral hospital in Swaziland: a cross-sectional study
The exact prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and pre-diabetes in Swaziland remains unknown. Estimates suggest that the prevalence rate of type 2 diabetes mellitus is between 2.5 and 6.0% in Swazilan... (Source: BMC Public Health)
Source: BMC Public Health - March 26, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Mojeed Akorede Gbadamosi and Boikhutso Tlou Tags: Research article Source Type: research

Sociodemographic factors, health seeking behaviors, reproductive history, and knowledge of cervical screening among women in Swaziland
Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer among women in Swaziland; however, a low rate of cervical screening in this population has led to high rates of morbidity and mortality from cervical cancer. (Source: Infectious Agents and Cancer)
Source: Infectious Agents and Cancer - March 5, 2020 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Ibironke O. Aina, Smruti M. Raul, Luz A. Padilla, Simangele Mthethwa-Hleta, Peter O. Preko and Pauline E. Jolly Tags: Research Article Source Type: research

The effect of 90-90-90 on HIV-1 incidence and mortality in eSwatini: a mathematical modelling study
Publication date: Available online 13 February 2020Source: The Lancet HIVAuthor(s): Adam Akullian, Michelle Morrison, Geoffrey P Garnett, Zandile Mnisi, Nomthandazo Lukhele, Daniel Bridenbecker, Anna BershteynSummaryBackgroundThe rapid scale-up of antiretroviral therapy (ART) towards the UNAIDS 90-90-90 goals over the last decade has sparked considerable debate as to whether universal test and treat can end the HIV-1 epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa. We aimed to develop a network transmission model, calibrated to capture age-specific and sex-specific gaps in the scale-up of ART, to estimate the historical and future effect o...
Source: The Lancet HIV - February 15, 2020 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research

IJERPH, Vol. 17, Pages 1017: The Epidemiology of Skin Cancer and Public Health Strategies for Its Prevention in Southern Africa
Norval Skin cancer is a non-communicable disease that has been underexplored in Africa, including Southern Africa. Exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is an important, potentially modifiable risk factor for skin cancer. The countries which comprise Southern Africa are Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, and Swaziland. They differ in population size and composition and experience different levels of solar UVR. Here, the epidemiology and prevalence of skin cancer in Southern African countries are outlined. Information is provided on skin cancer prevention campaigns in these countries, and evidence sought...
Source: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health - February 5, 2020 Category: Environmental Health Authors: Caradee Y. Wright D. Jean du Preez Danielle A. Millar Mary Norval Tags: Article Source Type: research

Population structure of indigenous southern African goats based on the Illumina Goat50K SNP panel
In this study, the genetic structure of indigenous Tswana and Swazi goats using the Illumina Goat50K SNP array was investigated. Two South African commercial goat breeds were included to investigate admixture with the indigenous populations in southern Africa. A total of 144 DNA samples including Boer goats (n = 24), Kalahari Red (n = 24), Swazi (n = 48), and Tswana goats (n = 48) were genotyped. Statistical analysis was performed using PLINK version 1.07. Genetic diversity, measured as expected heterozygosity, was estimated at 0.390, 0.398, 0.413, and 0.387 for Boer, Kalahari Red, Tswana, and Swazi goats, ...
Source: Tropical Animal Health and Production - January 5, 2020 Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research

Molecules, Vol. 24, Pages 4238: The Genus Nerine Herb. (Amaryllidaceae): Ethnobotany, Phytochemistry, and Biological Activity
Opletal Nerine Herbert, family Amaryllidaceae, is a genus of about 30 species that are native to South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, and Swatini (formerly known as Swaziland). Species of Nerine are autumn-flowering, perennial, bulbous plants, which inhabit areas with summer rainfall and cool, dry winters. Most Nerine species have been cultivated for their elegant flowers, presenting a source of innumerable horticultural hybrids. For many years, species of Nerine have been subjected to extensive phytochemical and pharmacological investigations, which resulted in either the isolation or identification of more t...
Source: Molecules - November 20, 2019 Category: Chemistry Authors: Cahl íková Van ěčková Šafratová Breiterov á Blunden Hulcov á Opletal Tags: Review Source Type: research

Behavioral factors contributing to the transmission of HIV and AIDS amongst young women of Mbabane in Swaziland
Conclusion: The findings indicated that though the majority of the respondents had knowledge of HIV and AIDS, positive behavior change remained a challenge. Most respondents (88%) had one sexual partner with 38% reporting condom use during their last sexual encounter. HIV/AIDS awareness was widespread. However, there were still characteristics of resistance to behavior change, because there was evidence of underestimation of HIV risk through engagement in behavior, which contributed to HIV infection and spread.Behavioral change measures using the BCC model is proposed.Keywords: BCC Model, behavior change, HIV, AIDS, youth,...
Source: African Health Sciences - November 3, 2019 Category: African Health Source Type: research

IJERPH, Vol. 16, Pages 4063: Climate-Driven Adaptation, Household Capital, and Nutritional Outcomes among Farmers in Eswatini
McKune Globally, communities are increasingly impacted by the stressors of climate change. In response, people may adapt to maintain their livelihoods and overall health and nutrition. However, the relationship between climate adaptation and human nutrition is poorly understood and results of adaptation are often unclear. We investigated the relationship between adaptation and child nutrition, in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) during an extreme drought. Households varied in both adaptation behavior and household resources and we found that, overall, households that adapted had better child nutrition than those that di...
Source: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health - October 22, 2019 Category: Environmental Health Authors: Bailey McCleery Barnes McKune Tags: Article Source Type: research

Provision of postpartum care to women giving birth in health facilities in sub-Saharan Africa: A cross-sectional study using Demographic and Health Survey data from 33 countries
This study estimated the percentage of women receiving a postpartum health check following childbirth in a health facility in SSA and examined the determinants of receiving such check. Methods and findingsWe used the most recent Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) conducted in 33 SSA countries between 2000 –2016. We estimated the percentage of women receiving a postpartum check by a health professional while in the childbirth facility and the associated 95% confidence interval (CI) for each country. We analyzed determinants of receiving such checks using logistic regression of the pooled data. The a nalysis sample includ...
Source: PLoS Medicine - October 22, 2019 Category: Internal Medicine Authors: Lenka Benova Source Type: research

Recent levels and trends in HIV incidence rates among adolescent girls and young women in ten high-prevalence African countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Publication date: November 2019Source: The Lancet Global Health, Volume 7, Issue 11Author(s): Isolde Birdthistle, Clare Tanton, Andrew Tomita, Kristen de Graaf, Susan B Schaffnit, Frank Tanser, Emma SlaymakerSummaryBackgroundThe roll-out of antiretroviral therapy (ART) has changed contexts of HIV risk, but the influence on HIV incidence among young women is not clear. We aimed to summarise direct estimates of HIV incidence among adolescent girls and young women since ART and before large investments in targeted prevention for those in sub-Saharan Africa.MethodsWe did a systematic review and meta-analysis. We searched MEDLI...
Source: The Lancet Global Health - October 11, 2019 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research

Genetic diversity and relationships among three Southern African Nguni cattle populations
This study was carried out to assess genetic diversity and establish the relationships among South African (SA), Mozambican (Landim), and Swazi Nguni cattle populations, using 25 microsatellite markers. Genotypic data were generated from deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) samples of 90 unrelated individuals of the three cattle populations, collected from government conservations and stud herds. DNA profiles of five local beef breeds were used as the reference populations. Most of the 25 microsatellite markers were highly polymorphic across the studied populations, with an overall polymorphic information content (PIC) mean of 0.67...
Source: Tropical Animal Health and Production - September 15, 2019 Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research

Factors Associated With Success in Reducing HIV Mother-to-child Transmission in Sub-Saharan Africa: Interviews With Key Stakeholders.
Abstract PURPOSE: A key global health challenge is the persistence of new pediatric HIV infections due to mother-to-child transmission (MCTC), particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. The purpose of this study was to identify the key strategies that some sub-Saharan African countries have used to successfully reduce new pediatric HIV infections. METHODS: A qualitative study utilizing semistructured interviews with key stakeholders in 6 sub-Saharan African countries (Burundi, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, and Uganda) was conducted from September 2017 to September 2018. These stakeholders w...
Source: Clinical Therapeutics - September 11, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Omonaiye O, Kusljic S, Nicholson P, Manias E Tags: Clin Ther Source Type: research

Factors associated with isoniazid resistant tuberculosis among human immunodeficiency virus positive patients in Swaziland: a case-control study
Isoniazid resistant tuberculosis is the most prevalent type of resistance in Swaziland and over two-thirds of the isoniazid resistant tuberculosis patients are tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus co-... (Source: BMC Infectious Diseases)
Source: BMC Infectious Diseases - August 20, 2019 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Nonhlanhla Christinah Dlamini, Dar-Der Ji and Li-Yin Chien Tags: Research article Source Type: research