A cross-sectional study of risk factors for HIV among pregnant women in Guatemala City, Guatemala: lessons for prevention.

Although the Central American HIV epidemic is concentrated in high-risk groups, HIV incidence is increasing in young women. From 2005 to 2007, we conducted a cross-sectional study of pregnant women in a large public hospital and an HIV clinic in Guatemala City to describe risk factors for HIV infection and inform prevention strategies. For 4629 consenting patients, HIV status was laboratory-confirmed and participant characteristics were assessed by interviewer-administered questionnaires. Lifetime number of sexual partners ranged from 1 to 99, with a median (interquartile range) of 1 (1, 2). 2.6% (120) reported exchanging sex for benefits; 0.1% (3) were sex workers, 2.3% (106) had used illegal drugs, 31.1% (1421) planned their pregnancy and 31.8% (1455) experienced abuse. In logistic regression analyses, HIV status was predicted by one variable describing women's behaviour (lifetime sexual partners) and three variables describing partner risks (partner HIV+, migrant worker or suspected unfaithful). Women in our sample exhibited few behavioural risks for HIV but significant vulnerability via partner behaviours. To stem feminization of the epidemic, health authorities should complement existing prevention interventions in high-risk populations with directed efforts towards bridging populations such as migrant workers. We identify four locally adapted HIV prevention strategies.

Two bioactive saponins from Albizia subdimidiata from the Suriname rainforest.

Bioassay-guided fractionation of a methanol extract of Albizia subdimidiata using the engineered yeast strains 1138, 1140, 1353, and Sc7 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae as the bioassay tool resulted in the isolation of the two active saponins 1 and 2; one of these, albiziatrioside A (1), is described for the first time. The structures of 1 and 2 were established on the basis of HRMS, 1D and 2D NMR spectral data, and GC--MS analysis of the sugar units. Both isolated compounds showed significant cytotoxicity against the A2780 cell line.

Assessment of health needs and willingness to utilize health care resources of adolescents in a suburban population.

We investigated whether adolescents living in a middle-class suburb believed that their health needs were being met, and the extent to which they were willing to utilize local health care resources for a range of problems. Self-administered, anonymous questionnaires were completed by 649 students in grades 9 through 12. The mean age of respondents was 15.4 years; 52% were female, and 95% white. They had ready access to medical care: 90% used a specific private physician. From a list of 15 health problems, 60% indicated that they had seen a health provider for at least one of them, most often for stomach pains (22%), headaches (18%), and coughing (16%). From an identical list, 48% indicated that there was at least one problem for which they had never seen a health provider but would like to, most often for a weight problem (14%), birth control (10%), and emotional upset (9%). Although 20% regularly used illegal drugs, 24% were sexually active, and 38% thought they had a weight problem, only 1%, 4%, and 10%, respectively, had sought care for these matters. A majority of students would not choose to go to a private physician for care related to sexuality, substance abuse, or emotional upset, and would not be willing to seek care for these problems with their parents' knowledge. Ready access to private primary care did not assure attention to important health needs among these suburban adolescents.