Personal factors influencing female students' condom use at a higher education institution.

BACKGROUND:  South African female students' consistent condom use is low, possibly due to personal factors, such as knowledge about sexual reproductive health, attitudes towards safe sex, risk perceptions and condom use, self-efficacy. AIM:  This study aimed to investigate the personal factors that influence condom utilisation among female students. SETTING:  This study was conducted at a higher education institution in the Northern Cape province in South Africa. METHODS:  A quantitative, descriptive survey design was used. Three hundred and eighty five participants were selected using convenience sampling. The research instrument was a self-administered questionnaire, and the data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 28. RESULTS:  Almost two-thirds (250, 64.9%) of participants used condoms to prevent pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Although attitudes towards safe sex were generally positive, low risk perceptions were reported. Consistent use of condoms was found in 32.2% (124) of participants, while 45.3% (174) participants used condoms inconsistently or never. A significant finding was that consistent use increased the likelihood of negotiating for a condom with partners by 9.14 times and confidence in putting one on for a partner by 8.05 times. CONCLUSION:  The findings depict average levels of the use of condoms among female students. Prevention efforts should concentrate on educating female students to strengthen condom use and self-efficacy.Contribution: This study, supporting existing literature, suggests that preventative efforts should focus on educating young women about condom use, self-efficacy and encouraging STI conversations with sexual partners.

GENDER RELATED BARRIERS AMONG HIV INFECTED INDIVIDUALS.

Late detection of HIV infection still remains serious problem for Georgia. During the last years prevalence and late detection of HIV infection is increasing among females and therefore, attempts to implement services adapted to female needs have significantly increased. It is essential to conduct research to create a basis for country's national response of HIV infection to become more gender sensitive. The goal of our study was to conduct survey among HIV-positive individuals to identify potential gender-based barriers and contributing factors that might influence timely diagnosis and treatment of HIV infection. Cross sectional study design was used. Target population included HIV-infected persons. Study subjects were selected by simple random sampling. Study participants were sampled from the registry of HIV infected patients. Quantitative data were collected through individual, face-to-face interviews, using specially designed questionnaire for this study. In total 182 HIV-infected individuals participated in survey, of whom 74 (40.6%) were females and 108 (59.6) were males. The level of awareness and knowledge on HIV/AIDS was similar in both male and female HIV positive individuals, although a higher proportion of men than women have heard of HIV/AIDS before their diagnosis. HIV infection is more stigmatizing for women than men. Fear of being abandoned by both community and family due to HIV/AIDS diagnosis was higher among female respondents. Higher proportion of male respondents than women reported an illness-related unemployment. Women were more likely to hide their diagnosis from other people compared to men. Higher proportion of female compared to male respondents reported notifying family members about their HIV status. Significantly higher proportion of female HIV-infected individuals have been accompanied by a family member on visit to physician due to HIV/AIDS compared to male HIV-infected respondents. A higher proportion of men than women reported an interruption/discontinuation of treatment regimen. Georgia has ensured free and unrestricted access to HIV service for all HIV infected individuals in the country. However, the stigma related to HIV still creates barriers to service utilization. Therefore, HIV national program should continue implementation of focused and concerted interventions to improve HIV awareness among gender populations.

Development of a training programme in disability assessment methidology based on international classification of functioning, disability and health (icf) for psychiatric disability claims in Georgia.

The new concept for social integration of people with disabilities pointed at the need to develop disability assessment methodology with the subsequent validization, based on modern approaches that conceptualise disability as arising from the interaction of a person's functional status with the physical, cultural and policy environments, therefore focussing on an individual's functional abilities. The academy of Swiss insurance medicine, ASIM, worked together with Georgian representatives to develop the principles of functional assessment and provide a method of applying these principles. As instrument for output specification the Mini ICF APP was selected, translated and back translated from German to Georgian. A training course of one day was conducted after which psychiatrists tested the approach in 5 cases each and suggested minor modifications of interpretation. After this they each performed 40 assessments with the new methodology. Doing the assessments with the new procedure was appreciated by all participants and provoked no problems. Being asked to fill out the Mini ICF form in a systematic fashion makes the reports more objective and transparent. The shift to a functional approach in evaluation of disability for work is practicable with the methodology ASIM has developed for this purpose and this fits with the present legislation. This approach could be used in other fields than psychiatry as well.

Mental disorders of people with disability pension in Georgia.

Correct assessment due to mental diseases is rather important. WHO developed International Classification for Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) and there are two approaches to its implementation - development of disease specific or generic core sets. In order to know which way to choose up to date information is needed on disorders that most frequently lead to disability in Georgia. The study aimed at identification of the most prevalent mental diseases that led to disability pension in Georgia in 2010. Cross-sectional study of the population of pension beneficiaries was conducted. We have calculated 10% of 607 (diagnosed with disability in 2010) to be included in the survey. They were selected using random sampling method. Patient data were collected from the case histories. Paranoid schizophrenia (F 20.0) was the leading cause of disability both in men and women - 51.6% in men and 50% in women. In men persistent delusional disorder and mild mental retardation with significant impairment of behavior accounted for 9.7% each, while in women persistent delusional disorder led to disability in 15.0% of cases and moderate mental retardation - in 10.0%. All children receiving disability pension are mentally retarded. Paranoid schizophrenia - relatively less common disorder has high associated impairment among adults in Georgia, whereas in children mental retardation is the most frequent disabling condition. However, there are many other diseases that lead to disability. Therefore the best way to move further might be to first develop a generic core set for all psychiatric disability.

Personality type and coronary heart disease.

Significant health damage caused by cardio-vascular diseases and in particular coronary heart disease creates serious problems for clinicians, public health providers and authorities. Identification of risk-factors has got utmost importance for effective and efficient prevention. In addition to "conventional" risk-factors number of psychosocial factors attracts growing attention. Especially when according to structural changes in society the role of social and psychological factors increased. As it's known that changes in economical relationships, reorganization of society according to social or other indicators induces or provokes stress and increases demands for adaptation abilities. Type A personality is one of such factors. A case-control study was carried out to assess the relationship between different psychosocial factors (personality type, psychosocial work environment, social support and socioeconomic status, including education) and coronary heart disease. The study results indicate that low socio-economic status and jobs characterized by low decision latitude, high job strain and low social support at work may be associated with an increased risk of acute coronary events. Though no significant correlation was revealed between type A personality and coronary heart disease rate.

Education and coronary heart disease.

In Georgia, like the other post soviet republics CHD morbidity is increasing, especially among young and middle aged people i.e. among those who should have the most working ability that points at both individual and social significance of the problem. CHD is becoming more and more common among rural inhabitants, different professional groups involved not only in mental but also in physical work. There is growing evidence that socio-economic status (SES) is one of predictors of coronary heart disease and its risk-factors, though the direction of the relationship is not stable and differs by countries. SES is characterized by factors as education, occupation, income, housing conditions, etc. Education is the most widely used measure of socio-economic status in epidemiologic studies. Our research aimed assessment of the relationship between education and coronary heart disease that will contribute to selection of target groups and correct planning of primary and secondary prevention measures. A case-control study was carried out. The study results indicate that Georgia is in the transitional period and probably in several years education and CHD will have negative correlation.

Psychosocial work environment and coronary heart disease.

In Georgia, like the other post Soviet republics, CHD morbidity is increasing, especially among young and middle aged people-- i.e. among those who should have the most working ability-- that points at both individual and social significance of the problem. CHD is becoming more and more common among rural inhabitants, different professional groups involved not only in mental but also in physical work. The longstanding observation that rates of coronary heart disease vary markedly among occupations more than can be accounted for by conventional risk factors for coronary heart disease has generated a quest for specific components of work that might be of etiological importance. Especially when according to structural changes in society the role of social and psychological factors increased. Case-control study was carried out based on Karasek model. Our results indicate that jobs characterized by low decision latitude, high job strain and low social support at work may be associated with an increased risk of acute coronary events.