Field Validation of Limiting-Antigen Avidity Enzyme Immunoassay to Estimate HIV-1 Incidence in Cross-Sectional Survey in Swaziland
AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses, Ahead of Print. (Source: AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses)
Source: AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses - August 14, 2019 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Yen T. Duong Trudy Dobbs Yvonne Mavengere Julius Manjengwa Erin Rottinghaus Suzue Saito Naomi Bock Neena Philip Jessica Justman George Bicego John N. Nkengasong Bharat S. Parekh Source Type: research

IJERPH, Vol. 16, Pages 2886: Estimating the Double Burden of Malnutrition among 595,975 Children in 65 Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Meta-Analysis of Demographic and Health Surveys
Conclusions: There is an urgent need to strengthen existing policies on child malnutrition to integrate and scale up opportunities for innovative approaches which address the double burden of malnutrition in children under five years in LMICs. (Source: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health)
Source: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health - August 12, 2019 Category: Environmental Health Authors: Blessing J. Akombi Stanley Chitekwe Berhe W. Sahle Andre M.N. Renzaho Tags: Article Source Type: research

Obligations of motherhood in shaping sex work, condom use, and HIV care among Swazi female sex workers living with HIV.
Authors: Parmley L, Fielding-Miller R, Mnisi Z, Kennedy CE Abstract Parental obligations influence sexual behaviour among female sex workers (FSW) and may serve as a risk or protective factor for HIV acquisition. How these obligations affect behaviours beyond HIV prevention, including HIV care, is understudied. We analysed 25 interviews conducted with 11 mothers who sell sex and are living with HIV, and 4 key informants as part of a larger study examining the positive health, dignity, and prevention needs of FSW in eSwatini. Despite awareness of HIV reinfection, FSW initiated sex work and engaged in condom...
Source: African Journal of AIDS Research - July 25, 2019 Category: African Health Tags: Afr J AIDS Res Source Type: research

Social values, needs, and sustainable water –energy–food resource utilisation practices: a rural Swazi case study
AbstractSocial values structure sustainability practices, including needs-fulfilment practices utilising water –energy–food nexus resources. However, robust theories outlining the interrelations of values, needs and needs-fulfilment practices are lacking. Our aim is to conceptualise and model these interrelations from a sociological perspective that accounts for structure and agency. We do this through a participatory ethnography of a community-based, child-focused food security intervention in rural Eswatini, which defined sustainability in terms of local water–energy–food self-sufficiency. We collected ethnograph...
Source: Sustainability Science - July 24, 2019 Category: Science Source Type: research

IJERPH, Vol. 16, Pages 2590: The Role of Culture in Maintaining Post-Partum Sexual Abstinence of Swazi Women
iba Eswatini is one of the countries in the African continent where post-partum sexual abstinence is practiced. Beside scarcity of research exploring sexual abstinence in Eswatini, there are only a few studies that explore post-partum abstinence across HIV-positive and negative women in sub-Saharan Africa. The study explored the practice of post-partum sexual abstinence in Swazi women and examined how cultural beliefs influence and promotes the perpetuation of the practice. The study population consisted of post-partum women who were selected, using purposive sampling. Thematic approach was used for data analysis. Desp...
Source: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health - July 19, 2019 Category: Environmental Health Authors: Zinhle Shabangu Sphiwe Madiba Tags: Article Source Type: research

“We were afraid of the lion that has roared next to us”; community response to reactive focal mass drug administration for malaria in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland)
Reactive focal mass drug administration (rfMDA), or presumptive treatment without malaria testing of household members and neighbours of a passively identified malaria case, is currently being explored as a po... (Source: Malaria Journal)
Source: Malaria Journal - July 15, 2019 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Kimberly A. Baltzell, Alysse Maglior, Khaya Bangu, Nontokozo Mngadi, Lisa M. Prach, Brooke Whittemore, Nyasatu Ntshalintshali, Manik Saini, Nomcebo Dlamini, Simon Kunene and Michelle S. Hsiang Tags: Research Source Type: research

Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Associated With post-natal PMTCT in Breastfeeding mothers living with HIV
Publication date: Available online 12 June 2019Source: International Journal of Africa Nursing SciencesAuthor(s): Phumzile Dlamini, Theresa S Mokoboto-ZwaneAbstractDespite interventions tailored to prevention of mother-to-child of HIV and reported improvements on the outcomes, there is still vertical transmission of HIV through breastfeeding. The study sought to explore knowledge, attitudes, and practices of breastfeeding mothers living with HIV regarding post-natal PMTCT interventions and services. The study sample size was 90 and included conveniently selected breastfeeding mothers living with HIV who attended the King S...
Source: International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences - June 12, 2019 Category: African Health Source Type: research

Navigating intimate sexual partnerships in an era of HIV: dimensions of couple relationship quality and satisfaction among adults in Eswatini and linkages to HIV risk.
Authors: Ruark A, Green EC, Nunn A, Kennedy C, Adams A, Dlamini-Simelane T, Surkan P Abstract Couple relationship functioning impacts individual health and well-being, including HIV risk, but scant research has focused on emic understandings of relationship quality in African populations. We explored relationship quality and satisfaction in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) using data from 148 in-depth interviews (117 life-course interviews with 28 adults and 31 interviews with 29 marriage counselors and their clients) and 4 focus group discussions. Love, respect, honesty, trust, communication, sexual satisfac...
Source: Sahara J - April 17, 2019 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: SAHARA J Source Type: research

Evaluation of a routine point-of-care intervention for early infant diagnosis of HIV: an observational study in eight African countries
Publication date: Available online 12 April 2019Source: The Lancet HIVAuthor(s): Flavia Bianchi, Jennifer Cohn, Emma Sacks, Rebecca Bailey, Jean-Francois Lemaire, Rhoderick Machekano, Valery Nzima Nzima, Patricia Fassinou Ekouévi, Mafusi Makone, Collins O Odhiambo, Addmore Chadambuka, Thembie E Masuku, Manuel C Sabonete, Angelique R FundiSummaryBackgroundIn 2017, there were 180 000 estimated new HIV infections in children aged 0–14 years. Without early diagnosis and treatment, half of infants with HIV die by age 2 years, with peak mortality around age 8–10 weeks. Conventional early infant diagnosis (EID) systems hav...
Source: The Lancet HIV - April 13, 2019 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research

Determinants of risky sexual behaviours among adolescents in Central African Republic, Eswatini and Ghana: evidence from multi-indicator cluster surveys.
This study seeks to fill part of this gap by identifying the determinants of risky sexual behaviours among adolescents in Ghana, Central African Republic (CAR) and Eswatini (formerly Swaziland). We used nationally representative sample data from the Multi Indicator Cluster survey, round four (MICS4). Results of the descriptive analysis show that overall consistent condom use is still extremely low in sub-Saharan Africa. In Ghana, only 8.5% of male youth and 7% of female youth consistently use condoms. In CAR this figure is 8% and 4% in male youth and female youth respectively. In Eswatini, with one of highest HIV prevalenc...
Source: African Journal of AIDS Research - March 20, 2019 Category: African Health Tags: Afr J AIDS Res Source Type: research

"I don't want them to know": how stigma creates dilemmas for engagement with Treat-all HIV care for people living with HIV in Eswatini.
Authors: Horter S, Bernays S, Thabede Z, Dlamini V, Kerschberger B, Pasipamire M, Rusch B, Wringe A Abstract "Treat-all" programmes aim to improve clinical outcomes and to reduce HIV transmission through regular HIV testing and immediate offer of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for those diagnosed HIV-positive, irrespective of immunological status and symptoms of disease. Global narratives on the benefits of Treat-all anticipate reduced HIV-related stigma and increased "normalisation" of HIV with Treat-all implementation, whereby HIV is remoulded as a manageable, chronic condition where stigmatising symptoms ...
Source: African Journal of AIDS Research - February 21, 2019 Category: African Health Tags: Afr J AIDS Res Source Type: research

Contraception use and unplanned pregnancies in a peri-urban area of eSwatini (Swaziland)
ConclusionThe rate of unplanned pregnancies is high in this population, especially among teenagers. Family planning interventions need to focus on preconception care for teenagers to enable pregnancy planning including improved antenatal care attendance. (Source: Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare)
Source: Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare - January 17, 2019 Category: Reproduction Medicine Source Type: research

Deterrents to Immediate Antiretroviral Therapy Initiation by Pregnant Women Living with HIV in Hhohho Region, Swaziland.
This study explored the reasons which deter pregnant women living with HIV from immediate ART initiation in the Hhohho region, Swaziland, using grounded theory design. In-depth interviews with ten purposively selected pregnant women who refused immediate ART initiation were carried out in three high volume health facilities. The thematic analysis revealed key reasons that deterred women from immediate ART initiation. These were shock and perceived stigma, participants' conceptualisation of health and ART and the fear of ART and its side effects. The study offers qualitative evidence from Swaziland that might help illuminat...
Source: African Journal of Reproductive Health - January 12, 2019 Category: African Health Tags: Afr J Reprod Health Source Type: research

Determinants of undernutrition prevalence in children aged 0-59 months in sub-Saharan Africa between 2000 and 2015. A report from the World Bank database.
CONCLUSIONS: Undernutrition represents a major public health threat in sub-Saharan Africa and its prevalence reduction during the period 2000-2015 was inconsistent. Improving water accessibility and number of medical doctors along with reducing HIV prevalence and poverty could significantly reduce undernutrition prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa. PMID: 30526721 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Public Health Nutrition)
Source: Public Health Nutrition - December 11, 2018 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Ricci C, Asare H, Carboo J, Conradie C, Dolman RC, Lombard M Tags: Public Health Nutr Source Type: research

The Relationship between Patients’ Perception of Nurse Caring Behaviors and Tuberculosis Stigma among Patients with Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis in Swaziland
ConclusionNurse caring behaviors can predict how patients perceive stigma. Therefore, emphases on caring behaviors education on nurses is needed to reduce TB stigma among patients with drug resistant TB which will lead to patients adhering to treatment. (Source: International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences)
Source: International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences - November 15, 2018 Category: African Health Source Type: research