International Public Health Commons^™

Awareness, Acceptability And Uptake Of Human Papilloma Virus Vaccine Among Cameroonian School-Attending Female Adolescents, Claudine Ayissi, Richard Wamai, Geofrey Oduwo, Stacey Perlman, Edith Welty, Simon Manga, Javier Ogembo

Richard G. Wamai

The purpose of this study is to assess awareness, knowledge and beliefs about HPV, cervical cancer HPV vaccine and willingness to vaccinate among adolescent females aged 12-26 years at clinics and schools in the North West Region of Cameroon where the Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services (CBCHS) conducted a sensitization and education campaign. A questionnaire survey was administered among female adolescents in schools and clinics. Descriptive statistics including frequencies, percentages and proportions were generated for independent variables and bivariate analyses (Chi square test) were used to assess the relationship between independent and outcome variables. Data were analyzed using SAS Version …

Exposé Of Misleading Claims That Male Circumcision Will Increase Hiv Infections In Africa, Brian J. Morris, Jake H. Waskett, Ronald H. Gray, Daniel T. Halperin, Richard Wamai, Bertran Auvert, Jeffrey D. Klausner

Richard G. Wamai

Despite over two decades of extensive research showing that male circumcision protects against heterosexual acquisition of HIV in men, and that includes findings from large randomized controlled trials leading to acceptance by the WHO/UNAIDS and the Cochrane Committee, opponents of circumcision continue to generate specious arguments to the contrary. In a recent issue of the Journal of Public Health in Africa, Van Howe and Storms claim that male circumcision will increase HIV infections in Africa. Here we review the statements they use in support of their thesis and show that there is no scientific basis to such an assertion. We …

Assessing The Effectiveness Of A Community-Based Sensitization Strategy In Creating Awareness About Hpv, Cervical Cancer And Hpv Vaccine Among Parents In North West Cameroon, Richard Wamai, Claudine Ayissi, Geofrey Oduwo, Stacey Perlman, Edith Welty, Simon Manga, Javier Ogembo

Richard G. Wamai

In 2010, the Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services (CBCHS) received a donation of HPV vaccine (Gardasil(A (R))) to immunize girls of ages 9-13 years in the North West Region of Cameroon. We evaluated the effectiveness of the CBCHS campaign program in sensitizing parents/guardians to encourage HPV vaccine uptake, identified factors that influence parents' decisions to vaccinate girls, and examined the uptake of cervical cancer screening among mothers. We conducted a cross-sectional survey in four healthcare facilities run by CBCHS, churches and other social settings. A total of 350 questionnaires were distributed and 317 were used for the analysis. There were …

Criticisms Of African Trials Fail To Withstand Scrutiny: Male Circumcision Does Prevent Hiv Infection, Richard Wamai, Brian Morris, Jake Waskett, Edward Green, Joya Banerjee, Robert Bailey, Jeffrey Klausner, David Sokal, Catherine Hankins

Richard G. Wamai

A recent article in the JLM (Boyle GJ and Hill G, "Sub-Saharan African Randomised Clinical Trials into Male Circumcision and HIV Transmission: Methodological, Ethical and Legal Concerns" (2011) 19 JLM 316) criticises the large randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that scientists, clinicians and policy-makers worldwide have concluded provide compelling evidence in support of voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) as an effective HIV prevention strategy. The present article addresses the claims advanced by Boyle and Hill, demonstrating their reliance on outmoded evidence, outlier studies, and flawed statistical analyses. In the current authors' view, their claims portray misunderstandings of the design, execution and …

Report On Sanitary Shoreline Survey Within The Tanbi Wetlands National Park And Other Shellfish Harvesting Communities, The Gambia

Michael A Rice

Emphasis is placed on the sanitary control of shellfish because of the direct relationship between pollution of shellfish growing areas and the transmission of diseases to humans. Shellfish borne infectious diseases are generally transmitted via a fecal - oral route. To accurately assess waters for shellfish harvesting, an evaluation of the pollution sources that are likely to affect the area is required by the NSSP. The shoreline survey is conducted of the shellfish growing area shoreline and estuary to locate pollution sources that could have an effect on the water quality of the area. The shoreline survey team visited 15 …

Verbal Autopsy Tool For Infant Mortality, Vijay Kumar Chattu

Vijay Kumar Chattu

Information on causes of death is extremely important for policy-making, planning, monitoring and evaluation of health programs as well as for field research, comparisons and epidemic awareness.The Millennium Development Goal for India is to reduce infant mortality rate to 35 per 1000 & under-five mortality to 45 per 1000 live births by 2015.The incorporation of Verbal Autopsy (VA) in the existing Registration Systems is necessary in order to fulfil its ultimate goal of improving the information on causes of infant deaths in areas where Civil Registration and Death Certification are weak. VA provides information for local action by health authorities …

Evaluating The Efficacy Of Training Programs For Community Health Workers In Rural Uganda, Elizabeth Butler, Edward O’Neil, Zachary Tabb, Edward Mwebe, John Mukadde, Prossy Jim, Michael A. Godkin, Judith A. Savageau, Safi Ahmed, Arwen Wolfe

Judith A. Savageau

Background: The Ministry of Health and Omnimed, a non-profit U.S.-based organization that works with international communities to provide basic health education, have partnered to provide health training to community health workers (henceforth referred to as village health workers or VHWs) in rural villages in Uganda. The training is provided via an intensive five-day long session that introduces a wide variety of themes in basic health education taught by experts in the respective fields. The participants are selected by the local government based on their age, reliability, level of education and availability. On the first day, the participants are given a …

Biological Basis For The Protective Effect Conferred By Male Circumcision Against Hiv Infection, Brian Morris, Richard Wamai

Richard G. Wamai

Here we provide an up-to-date review of research that explains why uncircumcised men are at higher risk of HIV infection. The inner foreskin is a mucosal epithelium deficient in protective keratin, yet rich in HIV target cells. Soon after sexual exposure to infected mucosal secretions of a HIV-positive partner, infected T-cells from the latter form viral synapses with keratinocytes and transfer HIV to Langerhans cells via dendrites that extend to just under the surface of the inner foreskin. The Langerhans cells with internalized HIV migrate to the basal epidermis and then pass HIV on to T-cells, thus leading to the …

* Overconsumption And The American Food Enterprise: Anthropological Insights On The Global Nutrition Transition, John Mazzeo

John Mazzeo, Ph.D.

No abstract provided.

Iron Status, Inflammation And Anemia In Bangladeshi Women Exposed To Arsenic, Joycelyn M. Faraj

Joycelyn M Faraj

Iron depletion (ID) is the most common nutrient deficiency worldwide and is the leading cause of anemia. Chronic arsenic (As) exposure is a major public health problem in Bangladesh and triggers inflammatory responses that render iron status assessment challenging. We assessed the prevalence of ID and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in 147 arsenic-exposed Bangladeshi women (75 skin lesion cases; 72 controls), ages 18-33 years, who were part of a skin lesion study. Hemoglobin (Hb) was measured in whole blood; ferritin and hs-c-reactive protein (CRP) were measured in serum. The prevalence of anemia (Hb<120g/L) was 18%. Although the prevalence of …

Libraries And Publishers Respond To Disaster With Groundbreaking Collaboration, Mary Moore Phd, Suzetta Burrows Mls, Maria Collins, Nancy Roderer

Mary Moore

The earthquake in Haiti prompted significant response from both health care workers and health sciences libraries. Individual libraries in the U.S. and elsewhere struggled to determine the best ways to support relief workers with health information resources and services. This column describes the Haiti earthquake and the response of health care workers, one organization’s experience in delivering services on the frontlines, the response of one library and its struggles to make information resources available, and the Emergency Access Initiative (EAI), an effective solution to offering information resources in times of disaster developed and implemented by the National Library of Medicine …

Kenya Keen On Achieving Targets On Neglected Diseases, Richard Wamai

Richard G. Wamai

No abstract provided.

Review: A Critical Evaluation Of Arguments Opposing Male Circumcision For Hiv Prevention In Developed Countries, Brian Morris, Robert Bailey, Jeffrey Klausner, Arleen Leibowitz, Richard Wamai, Jake Waskett, Joya Banerjee, Daniel Halperin, Laurie Zoloth, Helen Weiss, Catherine Hankins

Richard G. Wamai

A potential impediment to evidence-based policy development on medical male circumcision (MC) for HIV prevention in all countries worldwide is the uncritical acceptance by some of arguments used by opponents of this procedure. Here we evaluate recent opinion-pieces of 13 individuals opposed to MC. We find that these statements misrepresent good studies, selectively cite references, some containing fallacious information, and draw erroneous conclusions. In marked contrast, the scientific evidence shows MC to be a simple, low-risk procedure with very little or no adverse long-term effect on sexual function, sensitivity, sensation during arousal or overall satisfaction. Unscientific arguments have been recently …

Humanitarian Assistance Or Corporate Interest? Monsanto And Usaid In Haiti, John Mazzeo

John Mazzeo, Ph.D.

No abstract provided.

'We Have The Right Not To Be "Rescued"…': When Anti-Trafficking Programmes Undermine The Health And Well-Being Of Sex Workers (Peer-Reviewed), Aziza Ahmed, Meena Seshu

Aziza Ahmed

No abstract provided.

Ant 360: Topics In Global Health: Hiv/Aids, John Mazzeo

John Mazzeo, Ph.D.

No abstract provided.

Ant 235: Cultures Of The Caribbean, John Mazzeo

John Mazzeo, Ph.D.

No abstract provided.

Lsp 110: Alternative Healing In Chicago, John Mazzeo

John Mazzeo, Ph.D.

No abstract provided.

Ant 102: Cultural Anthropology (Online Version), John Mazzeo

John Mazzeo, Ph.D.

No abstract provided.

Inadequate Feeding Of Infant And Young Children In India: Lack Of Nutritional Information Or Food Affordability?, Nisha Malhotra

Nisha Malhotra

Why does child malnutrition persist in India? Amongst the fastest growing economies over the last two decades, India has struggled to make progress in the health of its children. In this article the author argues that the reason malnutrition persists is not limited to poverty or inadequate access to food; but that a lack of nutritional knowledge amongst families plays a very important role.

Scientific Abstract Objective: Despite a rapidly growing economy and rising income levels in India, improvements in child malnutrition have lagged. Data from the most recent National Family Health Survey reveal that the infant and young child …

Pepfar’S Declining Investment In Treatment, Matthew Kavanagh, Marguerite Thorp

Matthew M. Kavanagh

Since its inception in 2003, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has saved millions of lives through providing anti-retroviral (ARV) treatment to people living with HIV/AIDS. However, our analysis of publicly available PEPFAR operational plans shows that funding to AIDS treatment has actually fallen significantly since 2008 in both absolute dollars and as a portion of total budgets—just at a pivotal moment when investment could change the course of the epidemic.

Review Essay: Qualitative Inquiry: Critical Perspectives On Methods And Ethics, John Mazzeo

John Mazzeo, Ph.D.

No abstract provided.

Targeting Diseases Beyond Our Borders, Richard Wamai

Richard G. Wamai

No abstract provided.

The Double Threat Of Hiv/Aids And Drought On Rural Household Food Security In Southeastern Zimbabwe, John Mazzeo

John Mazzeo, Ph.D.

No abstract provided.

Introduction: Anthropologists Confront Hiv/Aids And Food Insecurity In Sub-Saharan Africa, John Mazzeo

John Mazzeo, Ph.D.

No abstract provided.

'How To Contain Generalized Hiv Epidemics' Article Misconstrues The Evidence, Richard Wamai, B. Morris

Richard G. Wamai

No abstract provided.

The Migration Of People From The Caribbean To The Bahamas, John Mazzeo

John Mazzeo, Ph.D.

No abstract provided.

Results Of A Preliminary Shoreline Shellfish Sanitary Survey Near Banjul, Gambia Conducted On 18 June 2011, Kanyi Babanding, Michael A. Rice

Michael A Rice

A preliminary shoreline survey was conducted along the Bund Road (frequently referred to as Bond Road) levee and the Banjul-Serrekunda Highway in the northern Tanbi Wetlands oyster harvesting area in the metropolitan Banjul area. In part this was designed as a training exercise for Gambian officials will be assuming responsibility for future shoreline surveys in the Gambia. Key identified areas of concern include the Banjul fish landing area on Bund Road utilized by a number of artisanal fishers; an over-water toilet facility for fishers near the fish landing site; evidence of illegal waste and rubbish dumping along Bund Road; an …

Hiv/Aids And Food Insecurity In Sub-Saharan Africa: Challenges And Solutions, John Mazzeo

John Mazzeo, Ph.D.

No abstract provided.

Retention In Care Among Hiv-Infected Patients In Resource-Limited Settings: Emerging Insights And New Directions, Elvin Geng, Denis Nash, Andrew Kambugu, Yao Zhang, Paula Braitstein, Katerina Christopoulos, Winnie Muyindike, Mwebesa Bwana, Constantin Yiannoutsos, Maya Petersen, Jeff Martin

Elvin H Geng

In resource-limited settings—where a massive scale up of HIV services has occurred in the last 5 years—both understanding the extent of and improving retention in care presents special challenges. First, retention in care within the decentralizing network of services is likely higher than existing estimates that account only for retention in clinic, and therefore antiretroviral therapy services may be more effective than currently believed. Second, both magnitude and determinants of patient retention vary substantially and therefore encouraging the conduct of locally relevant epidemiology is needed to inform programmatic decisions. Third, socio-structural factors such as program characteristics, transportation, poverty, work/child care …