scholarly journals Longitudinal Predictors of Child Sexual Abuse in a Large Community-Based Sample of South African Youth

2015 ◽  
Vol 32 (18) ◽  
pp. 2804-2836 ◽  
Author(s):  
Franziska Meinck ◽  
Lucie Dale Cluver ◽  
Mark Edward Boyes
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Retention Rate ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Physical Assault ◽  
Community Based

Sexual abuse has severe negative impacts on children’s lives, but little is known about risk factors for sexual abuse victimization in sub-Saharan Africa. This study examined prospective predictors of contact sexual abuse in a random community-based sample of children aged 10 to 17 years ( N = 3,515, 56.6% female) in South Africa. Self-report questionnaires using validated scales were completed at baseline and at 1-year follow-up (96.8% retention rate). Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between hypothesized factors and sexual abuse were examined. For girls, previous sexual abuse (odds ratio [OR] = 3.44, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [2.03, 5.60]), baseline school dropout (OR = 2.76, 95% CI = [1.00, 6.19]), and physical assault in the community (OR = 2.17, 95% CI = [1.29, 3.48]) predicted sexual abuse at follow-up. Peer social support (OR = 0.84, 95% CI = [0.74, 0.98]) acted as a protective factor. Previous contact sexual abuse was the strongest predictor of subsequent sexual abuse victimization. In addition, peer support moderated the relationship between baseline assault and subsequent sexual abuse. For boys, no longitudinal predictors for sexual abuse victimization were identified. These results indicate that the most vulnerable girls—those not in school and with a history of victimization—are at higher risk for sexual abuse victimization. High levels of peer support reduced the risk of sexual abuse victimization and acted as a moderator for those who had experienced physical assault within the community. Interventions to reduce school drop-out rates and revictimization may help prevent contact sexual abuse of girls in South Africa.

scholarly journals Psychopathic Personality Traits as a Protective Factor against the Development of Intrusive Memories

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-12
Author(s):  
Caroline Moul ◽  
Angela Nickerson
Keyword(s):  
Personality Traits ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Motor Vehicle Accident ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Psychopathic Personality ◽  
Intrusive Memories ◽  
Short Video

Background People with psychopathic personality traits have been shown to have low rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Contemporary theoretical models of PTSD and psychopathy converge to suggest that a bias in the type of information that is encoded into memory is a core component of both disorders. We tested the hypothesis that people with psychopathic personality traits have a reduced susceptibility to developing intrusion-related symptoms. Method Participants completed self-report measures before watching a short video depicting the aftermath of a motor vehicle accident. The participants recorded their intrusive memories for seven days before returning for a follow-up assessment. Results Psychopathic personality score was found to be a significant negative predictor of intrusion-related experiences at follow-up. This relationship was mediated by the vividness of intrusions. Conclusion The results support the hypothesis that the balance between the encoding of perceptual versus conceptual properties is a core feature both in the aetiology of PTSD and in people with psychopathic personality traits.

scholarly journals Stigma and Lack of Social Support Contribute to Loss-To-Follow-Up in a Cervical Cancer Prevention Program in Western Kenya

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carissa Novak ◽  
Bonnie Kaiser ◽  
Lawrence Park ◽  
Sandra Yvonne ◽  
Saduma Ibrahim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Cervical Cancer ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Treatment Access ◽  
Western Kenya ◽  
Loss To Follow Up ◽  
Modifiable Factors ◽  
Hpv Test

Abstract Background While highly preventable, cervical cancer remains a leading contributor to the global burden of cancer among women globally, with disproportionate impacts in Sub-Saharan Africa. Human papillomavirus (HPV) testing is a cost-effective screening strategy with the potential to increase screening uptake; however, the two-visit requirement often leads to substantial loss-to-follow-up (LTFU) for treatment. Understanding modifiable factors that contribute to LTFU is essential to ensuring maximal program impact. Methods We carried out a mixed-methods study to understand factors related to LTFU following an HPV-based cervical cancer screening campaign in rural Western Kenya. We randomly selected participants among women testing HPV positive as part of an existing intervention study to complete quantitative surveys, seeking equal numbers of treated and LTFU women. A subset of women from both groups was selected for in-depth interviews (IDIs). Results Sixty-one treated and 39 LTFU women completed the quantitative survey, and 10 women from each group completed IDIs. Cost of transportation and distance to the hospital were barriers among all women, who often depended on their partners to facilitate this. Among treated women 67% (n = 41) reported that their peers knew their HPV test result, compared to 38% (n = 15) among LTFU women (p = .007). Stigma and lack of partner and peer support emerged as strong barriers among LTFU women. Women proposed peer encouragement, including men in educational sessions, bringing facilities closer, and providing transportation as facilitators to treatment access. Conclusion Lack of partner and social support emerged as key barriers to treatment uptake among LTFU women. Future interventions should explore stigma reduction, male involvement, peer support, and alternative transportation options as potential facilitators to treatment seeking.

scholarly journals Rates and Correlates of HIV Incidence in Namibia’s Zambezi Region From 2014 to 2016: Sentinel, Community-Based Cohort Study

10.2196/17107 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. e17107
Author(s):  
Andrew D Maher ◽  
Tuli Nakanyala ◽  
Nicholus Mutenda ◽  
Karen M Banda ◽  
Dimitri Prybylski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Hiv Incidence ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Home Based ◽  
Hiv Test ◽  
Hiv Acquisition ◽  
Hiv Negative

Background Direct measures of HIV incidence are needed to assess the population-level impact of prevention programs but are scarcely available in the subnational epidemic hotspots of sub-Saharan Africa. We created a sentinel HIV incidence cohort within a community-based program that provided home-based HIV testing to all residents of Namibia’s Zambezi region, where approximately 24% of the adult population was estimated to be living with HIV. Objective The aim of this study was to estimate HIV incidence, detect correlates of HIV acquisition, and assess the feasibility of the sentinel, community-based approach to HIV incidence surveillance in a subnational epidemic hotspot. Methods Following the program’s initial home-based testing (December 2014-July 2015), we purposefully selected 10 clusters of 60 to 70 households each and invited residents who were HIV negative and aged ≥15 years to participate in the cohort. Consenting participants completed behavioral interviews and a second HIV test approximately 1 year later (March-September 2016). We used Poisson models to calculate HIV incidence rates between baseline and follow-up and multivariable Cox proportional hazard models to assess the correlates of seroconversion. Results Among 1742 HIV-negative participants, 1624 (93.23%) completed follow-up. We observed 26 seroconversions in 1954 person-years (PY) of follow-up, equating to an overall incidence rate of 1.33 per 100 PY (95% CI 0.91-1.95). Among women, the incidence was 1.55 per 100 PY (95% CI 1.12-2.17) and significantly higher among those aged 15 to 24 years and residing in rural areas (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 4.26, 95% CI 1.39-13.13; P=.01), residing in the Ngweze suburb of Katima Mulilo city (aHR 2.34, 95% CI 1.25-4.40; P=.01), who had no prior HIV testing in the year before cohort enrollment (aHR 3.38, 95% CI 1.04-10.95; P=.05), and who had engaged in transactional sex (aHR 17.64, 95% CI 2.88-108.14; P=.02). Among men, HIV incidence was 1.05 per 100 PY (95% CI 0.54-2.31) and significantly higher among those aged 40 to 44 years (aHR 13.04, 95% CI 5.98-28.41; P<.001) and had sought HIV testing outside the study between baseline and follow-up (aHR 8.28, 95% CI 1.39-49.38; P=.02). No seroconversions occurred among persons with HIV-positive partners on antiretroviral treatment. Conclusions Nearly three decades into Namibia’s generalized HIV epidemic, these are the first estimates of HIV incidence for its highest prevalence region. By creating a sentinel incidence cohort from the infrastructure of an existing community-based testing program, we were able to characterize current transmission patterns, corroborate known risk factors for HIV acquisition, and provide insight into the efficacy of prevention interventions in a subnational epidemic hotspot. This study demonstrates an efficient and scalable framework for longitudinal HIV incidence surveillance that can be implemented in diverse sentinel sites and populations.

scholarly journals Recruitment and retention of the Hardest-to-Reach families in community-based asthma interventions

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 543-550 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hillary Goldman ◽  
Maria Fagnano ◽  
Tamara T Perry ◽  
Ariel Weisman ◽  
Amanda Drobnica ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Underserved Populations ◽  
Retention Rate ◽  
Persistent Asthma ◽  
Asthma Severity ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Recruitment And Retention ◽  
School Based ◽  
Mild Persistent Asthma

Background/Aims Engaging underserved populations in research requires substantial effort for recruitment and retention. The objective of this study is to describe the effort needed to recruit and retain urban participants in pediatric asthma studies and to characterize the Hardest-to-Reach group by demographics and asthma severity. Methods We included 311 children (3–10 years) with persistent asthma enrolled in two school-based asthma interventions in Rochester, NY. Contact logs were collected at four time points (baseline, 2 month, 4 month, 6 month). We defined “Hardest-to-Reach” (vs “Easier-to-Reach”) as being unable to reach a family by telephone at any given contact attempt due to disconnected or wrong numbers. Chi-square and Mann–Whitney tests were used to compare groups. Results Overall, we enrolled 311 children (60% Black, 29% Hispanic, 70% Medicaid, response rate 70%). On average, 3.1 contact attempts were required for recruitment (range 1–15), and 35% required rescheduling at least once for the enrollment visit. All but 12 participants completed each follow-up (retention rate = 96%). Completion of follow-ups required an average of 7.6 attempts; we considered 38% of caregivers “Hardest-to-Reach.” Caregivers in the Hardest-to-Reach group were slightly younger (33 vs 36 years, p = 0.007) with more depressive symptoms (41% vs 29%, p = 0.035) and smokers in the home (59% vs 48%, p = 0.048). Furthermore, more of the Hardest-to-Reach children had moderate-severe versus mild persistent asthma (64% vs 52%, p = 0.045). Importantly, even the Easier-to-Reach families required many contact attempts, with 52% having >5 attempts for at least one follow-up. Conclusion In conclusion, we found that among an already vulnerable population, the Hardest-to-Reach families demonstrated higher risk and had children with significantly worse asthma. This study highlights the importance of persistence in reaching those in greatest need.

scholarly journals Augmentative and alternative communication in South Africa: Accessibility and implementation

1992 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Erna Alant
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Augmentative And Alternative Communication ◽  
Alternative Communication ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Verbal Expression ◽  
Critical Issues ◽  
Training Evaluations

The paper deals with the development of a community-based service for the implementation of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) strategies for people with severely limited verbal expression. The concept of community-based intervention is explained and the process of training as done in the Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication(CAAC), is described. Data of pre- and post-training evaluations is discussed as well as follow-up data obtained in the various training contexts. Finally, critical issues related to the follow-up data are discussed.

scholarly journals Rates and Correlates of HIV Incidence in Namibia’s Zambezi Region From 2014 to 2016: Sentinel, Community-Based Cohort Study (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew D Maher ◽  
Tuli Nakanyala ◽  
Nicholus Mutenda ◽  
Karen M Banda ◽  
Dimitri Prybylski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Hiv Incidence ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Home Based ◽  
Hiv Test ◽  
Hiv Acquisition ◽  
Hiv Negative

BACKGROUND Direct measures of HIV incidence are needed to assess the population-level impact of prevention programs but are scarcely available in the subnational epidemic hotspots of sub-Saharan Africa. We created a sentinel HIV incidence cohort within a community-based program that provided home-based HIV testing to all residents of Namibia’s Zambezi region, where approximately 24% of the adult population was estimated to be living with HIV. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to estimate HIV incidence, detect correlates of HIV acquisition, and assess the feasibility of the sentinel, community-based approach to HIV incidence surveillance in a subnational epidemic hotspot. METHODS Following the program’s initial home-based testing (December 2014-July 2015), we purposefully selected 10 clusters of 60 to 70 households each and invited residents who were HIV negative and aged ≥15 years to participate in the cohort. Consenting participants completed behavioral interviews and a second HIV test approximately 1 year later (March-September 2016). We used Poisson models to calculate HIV incidence rates between baseline and follow-up and multivariable Cox proportional hazard models to assess the correlates of seroconversion. RESULTS Among 1742 HIV-negative participants, 1624 (93.23%) completed follow-up. We observed 26 seroconversions in 1954 person-years (PY) of follow-up, equating to an overall incidence rate of 1.33 per 100 PY (95% CI 0.91-1.95). Among women, the incidence was 1.55 per 100 PY (95% CI 1.12-2.17) and significantly higher among those aged 15 to 24 years and residing in rural areas (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 4.26, 95% CI 1.39-13.13; <i>P</i>=.01), residing in the Ngweze suburb of Katima Mulilo city (aHR 2.34, 95% CI 1.25-4.40; <i>P</i>=.01), who had no prior HIV testing in the year before cohort enrollment (aHR 3.38, 95% CI 1.04-10.95; <i>P</i>=.05), and who had engaged in transactional sex (aHR 17.64, 95% CI 2.88-108.14; <i>P</i>=.02). Among men, HIV incidence was 1.05 per 100 PY (95% CI 0.54-2.31) and significantly higher among those aged 40 to 44 years (aHR 13.04, 95% CI 5.98-28.41; <i>P</i>&lt;.001) and had sought HIV testing outside the study between baseline and follow-up (aHR 8.28, 95% CI 1.39-49.38; <i>P</i>=.02). No seroconversions occurred among persons with HIV-positive partners on antiretroviral treatment. CONCLUSIONS Nearly three decades into Namibia’s generalized HIV epidemic, these are the first estimates of HIV incidence for its highest prevalence region. By creating a sentinel incidence cohort from the infrastructure of an existing community-based testing program, we were able to characterize current transmission patterns, corroborate known risk factors for HIV acquisition, and provide insight into the efficacy of prevention interventions in a subnational epidemic hotspot. This study demonstrates an efficient and scalable framework for longitudinal HIV incidence surveillance that can be implemented in diverse sentinel sites and populations.

Online Sexual Abuse and Symptomatology in Chilean Adolescents: The Role of Peer Support

2020 ◽  
pp. 088626052095768
Author(s):  
Cristóbal Guerra ◽  
Gabriela Aguilera ◽  
Constanza Lippians ◽  
Monserratt Navarro ◽  
Makarena Paz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Depressive Symptomatology ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Intervention Programs ◽  
Antisocial Behaviors ◽  
Internalizing Symptomatology ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Internalizing And Externalizing

Several authors are studying sexual abuse via the Internet and its consequences. However, the available studies have not sufficiently detected factors that could help reduce the symptoms that victims may experience. Given the importance of peers during adolescence, especially in the online world, the objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between online sexual abuse, perceived peer support, and internalizing and externalizing symptomatology. Three hundred and eighty Chilean adolescents (M = 16.12 years, SD = .52, 49.7% girls, 50.3% boys) responded to a set of self-report instruments. The results showed a relationship between online sexual abuse and depressive symptomatology, as well as self-injurious and antisocial behaviors. In turn, peer support was inversely associated with internalizing symptomatology. Results of the study highlight the relevance of peers as factors in intervention programs for adolescents dealing with online sexual abuse.

A Comparative Analysis of Collaborative Environmental Management of Natural Resources in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Study of Cameroon and South Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
pp. 512-532 ◽  
Author(s):  
Regis Musavengane ◽  
Henry Bikwibili Tantoh ◽  
Danny Simatele
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Natural Resources ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Collaborative Management ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Collaborative Community ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Governance Processes

In Africa, rural communities thrive on social capital and tend to have a number of commonalities that force them to share natural, physical and social resources. It has been a trend in sub-Saharan Africa to have either formal or informal collaborative management agreements to manage common pool resources (CPRs) to accommodate different actors and interests. This paper draws lessons from past and contemporary collaborative schemes in Cameroon and South Africa to enhance the practice and governance processes of natural resources in sub-Saharan Africa in order to promote sustainable development. Using research methods inspired by the tradition of participatory research to collect field-based data and complemented by reflections on previous and existing studies, the paper highlights the importance and benefits of participatory democracy as opposed to representational democracy in co-management of natural resources in rural spaces. It further discusses the need to redefine the roles of national and local governments, the youths and women in ensuring effective participation and the essence of unifying the judicial and culture. To guarantee sustainability of collaborative community-based natural resources, the paper emphasises the role and importance of youth and women empowerment. These issues have been discussed within the broader sustainability discourse.

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