Muhammad Ehsanul Hoque

Prevalence and experience of domestic violence among rural pregnant women in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Domestic violence is widely recognised as a global public health concern with both immediate and long-term health consequences. Domestic violence during pregnancy is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes such as low birth weight, spontaneous abortion, bleeding during pregnancy, preterm labour, preterm delivery and higher neonatal deaths. The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of domestic violence in a rural population of pregnant women. A cross-sectional, community-based, descriptive study was conducted targeting the pregnant women in a rural district of South Africa. A pre-tested, standard, anonymous questionnaire was administered to 340 randomly selected pregnant women (94% response rate). The prevalence of domestic violence was 31%. Domestic violence was highest in the age group 21-25 years and intimate partners (boyfriends/husband) were the main perpetrators (79%). Psychological (49%) and physical violence (36%) were the most common types of violence. Women who were unemployed...

Knowledge, Practices, and Attitudes of Emergency Contraception among Female University Students in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Objective The purpose of this study is to investigate the knowledge, practices, and attitudes among female university students in South Africa regarding emergency contraceptives (EC). Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 582 female university students who were selected using multi-stage sampling techniques. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to find significant predictors for EC awareness. Results The average age of the female students was 20.9 years (SD = 3.0) and 57.2% were presently sexually active. Overall, 49.8% of the participants reported having heard about EC prior to the study. Regarding sexual activities among the female students, 53.2% reported to have sex, and 21.2% of the sexually experienced students used EC prior to the study. Regarding the effectiveness of EC, 29.5% students said it could be used up to 72 hours after unprotected sexual intercourse, and 8% said it could be used just before sex. About two-thirds (61.8%) would recommend the use of EC and 63.2% would use it if they needed. The multivariate analysis indicated that students who were older (>20 years), presently sexually active, and living with their parents were more likely to be aware of EC (p<0.05). Conclusion The students’ knowledge and utilization of EC were low. Health education and promotion should be targeted towards these students, and the EC services should be offered on campus.

Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Acceptability among Female University Students in South Africa

BACKGROUND The objectives of this present study were to assess the awareness of cervical cancer and its risk factors among female undergraduates in South Africa, and to determine the their level of acceptability of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination. MATERIALS AND METHODS This cross-sectional study was conducted in March 2013 among 440 full time undergraduate female students. RESULTS Of those students who never had sex (n=163), 96 (58.9%) had ever heard of cervical cancer and only 12 students (12.5%) knew that HPV causes cervical cancer. More than a third (35.4%) of the students correctly said that sexual intercourse before age of 18 years is a risk factor for cervical cancer and 55.2% of the students knew about the Pap smear test which is used for screening cervical cancer. The majority (77.3%) were willing to accept HPV vaccination. Results revealed that students who knew about the Pap smear test, and were aware that having multiple sex partners, sexual intercourse before the age of 18 years, smoking and having contracted any STDs are risk factors for cervical cancer were more likely to accept HPV vaccination compared to other groups. CONCLUSIONS The general knowledge of South African female university students about cervical cancer is not sufficient but they have positive attitudes toward getting vaccinated with the HPV vaccine.

Reported risky sexual practices amongst female undergraduate students in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Abstract Background In South Africa, youths aged 15–24 years are at a higher risk of HIV infections than other age groups, and female youths are at a greater risk than their male counterparts. An essential step in controlling the pandemic of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is to help adolescents to reduce or avoid unsafe sexual practices. Objective This study was designed to establish risky sexual practices amongst female undergraduate students. Method This was a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out in September 2009 amongst full-time female undergraduate students. A multi-stage sampling method was used to recruit 391 students for the study. Results The mean age of the students was 21.4 ± 3.2 years (range 17–45 years). More than half (52.4%) of the students were sexually active. The median age at first sexual intercourse was 19.0 years (range 12–24 years). Participants who had multiple sexual partners had a median of 2 (range, 2–4) sexual partners. The majority (89.3%) of the students used contraceptives. Almost half (41.5%), sometimes or rarely, used contraceptives during sex. With regard to substance use, 57.5% and 6.9% respectively drank alcohol and used drugs. Sexually active students had 1.5 times (OR = 1.5, p = 0.04), (OR = Odds Ratio), more chances of consuming alcohol than those who were not sexually active. Students with multiple sexual partners were 7 times more likely to consume alcohol compared to those who did not have multiple partners (OR = 6.9, p = 0.004). Students with multiple sexual partners had 3.5 times more chances of taking drugs compared to students with one steady partner (OR = 3.5, p = 0.038). Conclusion A large number of female university students are engaging in risky sexual practices. University Management should concentrate on developing and implementing policies to promote safer sexual practices, in particular targeting consequences of STIs and HIV and methods to minimise the risk.

Sexual practices among male undergraduate students in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) pose a serious public health concern in South Africa. Young adults are continuously at higher risk of STIs and human immunodefciency virus (HIV) infection and also unwanted pregnancies than the general public, because of their higher levels of sexual experimentation and unsafe sexual practices. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to establish sexual practices of male undergraduate students in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. A total of 361 students were selected by multi-stage sampling methods and completed the self-administered questionnaire. The mean age of the students was 21.77±2.78 years. Of the respondents, 65.7% were sexually active and among them 55.3% had multiple sexual partners in the previous 12 months. The majority (92.0%) of the students used contraceptives and 97.2% of them used condoms. More than a third (36.2%) of the respondents used contraceptives sometimes or rarely during sex. Among sexually active students, 12.2% reported having been dia...

Contraceptive practices in the era of HIV/AIDS among university students in KwaZulu-Natal South Africa.

University students as a population of young adults are reportedly at a higher risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infections and HIV infection than the general public due to their higher levels of sexual experimentation and unsafe sexual practices. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to find the patterns of contraceptive use among university students at Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT), KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. A total of 752 students were selected by stratified random sampling techniques. A self-administered questionnaire probing contraceptive usage and reasons for non-usage was used to collect data. The results were summarized using means (SD) for continuous variables and percentages for categorical variables. Chi-square test was used to find the association between gender and contraceptive use. The mean age of the participants was 21.25 years (SD = 2.99). Fifty-nine percent (n = 442) were sexually active. Of the sexually active students, 90.7% (n = 401) used contraceptives. Among contraceptive users, 90.5% (n = 363) used condoms. Gender was not significantly associated (p = 0.327) with contraceptive use, but there was a significant association between gender and condom use as males used condom more than females (p < 0.001). Eighty-one percent (n = 323) of the sexually active students reported that they had used a contraceptive the last time they had sex. Regarding frequency of contraceptive use, 38.7% (n = 155) reported that they use contraceptives sometimes or rarely. The frequency of contraceptive use was not significantly related to gender (p = 0.305). Among 60 participants those who disapproved of using contraception, 68.3% (n = 41) were afraid that contraception would cause sterility and 6 students reported that contraception would make their partner promiscuous. In conclusion, a large proportion of university students at MUT in South Africa are sexually active and use contraception, but the use may be inconsistent. Thus, more research is needed to create interventions on contraception uptake.

ART patients' satisfaction level regarding comprehensive HIV and AIDS care management and antiretroviral treatment programme in Pretoria

The purpose of this cross- sectional study was to investigate patients’ satisfaction levels regarding access to, and quality of, comprehensive human immunodefciency virus (HIV) and acquired immune defciency syndrome (AIDS) care management and antiretroviral treatment programme (CCMT). A total of 402 patients were selected from three hospitals by stratifed random sampling techniques. A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess patients’ satisfaction levels. Almost all the patients (> 93%) gave positive response towards access to CCMT services, and mentioned that the doctor was kind, polite, and showed them respect; the nurse was kind, polite, and showed them respect; doctors provided full attention during consultations; and they felt comfortable talking to the healthcare provider about their problems. More than a tenth (12%) of the patients were dissatisfed with regard to privacy during consultation, and another 13% regarded the receptionist or booking clerk as unkind, impolite, disrespectful and ...

Cervical Precancerous Lesions and Cancer among Patients in the Gynaecology Outpatient Department at a Tertiary Hospital in South Africa

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to determine proportional rates of cervical precancerous lesions and cancer, and associations with socio-demographic variables, HIV status, and CD4 cell count. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective comparative study was conducted targeting the medical records of all women over age 18 that were diagnosed histologically through colposcopy with cervical precancerous lesions and cancer from 1 December 2011 to 30 November 2012. RESULTS A total of 313 patient records were used for data analysis. The average age was 39.1 (SD=2.04) years. More than a third (37.1%) of the patients had CIN III or cervical cancer. There was a significant association between age, CD4 cell count, HIV status, and cervical lesions (p<0.05). Age was found to be an influential predictor of cervical lesions (OR=0.67, 95%CI: 0.46-0.98). CONCLUSIONS There exists an association between age and cervical lesions, with presentation of cervical precancerous lesions and cervical cancer at a younger age among HIV reactive patients. The National Guidelines should be brought in line with the National HIV Counseling and Testing Policy to offer Pap smears to all sexually active women that test HIV reactive during routine HIV Testing.

Perceived susceptibility of cervical cancer screening among women attending Mahalapye district hospital, Botswana

Cervical cancer is a signifcant cause of morbidity and mortality in Botswana. Papanicolaou (Pap) cervical cytology screening has helped to reduce cervical cancer rates dramatically through early detection of premalignant lesions in countries with screening programmes that have been well implemented. The objectives of this cross-sectional study were to describe the womens perceived susceptibility to cervical cancer and the association between socio-demographic characteristics. A total of 300 participants were selected by convenience sampling techniques. Participants’ mean age was 37 years (SD=11). Results indicated that cervical cancer screening rates were 39%. Most of those that had ever been screened for cervical cancer (64%), had been screened in the previous three years. Most of the participants (75%) were aware of their perceived susceptibility to cervical cancer. There was a signifcant association between perceived susceptibility and screening for cervical cancer (x2=20.86; p<0.001). Among those wit...

Knowledge and utilisation of expanded functions of oral hygiene and barriers to successful implementation in public healthcare services in Gauteng

Dental hygiene continues to evolve as a profession. It needs greater regulation and autonomy. Since the burden of disease and demand for treatment is increasing, there is a great need for existing oral hygiene services to be utilised effectively and efficiently. The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge and utilisation of the expanded functions of oral hygiene, and also to gauge the barriers to successful implementation of these functions among dentists and dental therapists in public healthcare services in Gauteng province. The study was cross-sectional, and 51 selected dentists completed a self-administered questionnaire. More than a third (n = 19, 37%) of the dentists did not know anything about the expanded functions of oral hygiene. Among dentists who did have knowledge of these functions, 66% (n = 19) identified restorative procedures as the scope of the expanded functions. Almost three-quarters (n = 37, 72%) worked with oral hygienists, but only 14% delegated some of the expanded functions. Regarding non-delegation, 70% (n = 22) mentioned that the oral hygienists were too busy to carry out these functions. Seventy per cent (n = 22) of dentists indicated that the expanded functions were never used in their workplace, and 50% (n = 16) reported the lack of patient need as a barrier to utilisation of the functions in the workplace. Oral hygiene services in South Africa need to be brought in line with international expanded function standards. The full use of oral hygienists in applying these functions should be encouraged and supported.