Background: Designing a need-based social protection intervention for children comes as comprehensive tool for addressing the overall quality of life of HIV positive children. Not much has been examined on what consti...Background: Designing a need-based social protection intervention for children comes as comprehensive tool for addressing the overall quality of life of HIV positive children. Not much has been examined on what constitute the desired social protection framework for HIV positive children. Methods: This study was informed by a qualitative descriptive exploratory design approach. The study drew insights from the shared perspectives of 27 participants sampled from positive HIV status disclosed children—10 - 17 years, healthcare workers, Social and Development worker, HIV positive caregivers and parents from 7 ART clinics in rural and urban Brong Ahafo and Ashanti regions of Ghana. Data was collected through interviews and two focus group discussions with study participants. Drawing on the emerged themes from the transcripts, thematic content analysis was used to analyze the data using comparative thematic framework approach. Findings: The eclectic perspectives on the type of social protection policy/intervention preferred demonstrated the need for an interrelated and integrated social protection policy. This should not be designed in isolation towards addressing the child vulnerability. The study found that social protection policies aimed at addressing vulnerability levels of children should consider the dual vulnerability situation within which HIV positive children and adolescents are located. A set of unique specific tailored approach and package reflecting minimum combination social protection package to HIV positive children was considered essential for inclusion. The themes that emerged covered social policy/intervention package inclusive of a disease ending/eradication intervention package, cash transfer for children and their caregivers, free comprehensive health insurance integrating all consultancy and laboratory services charges, direct food supplements supply and nutritional support, research, target specified with evidenced-based monitoring. Counseling support and preferential treatment for children visiting ART for treatment were to be included. Conclusion: Combination social protection intervention packages remain the pathway to yielding maximum dividends on any social intervention that seeks to address the vulnerability levels of HIV positive children in Ghana. This should be designed taking into consideration the preference of the main target beneficiaries (HIV positive children) while accounting for the inclusion of the technical expertise of implementing stakeholders in the policy design from conceptualization to evaluation.展开更多
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus and the resultant disease—Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome are global epidemics in recent times. Although the effects of the epidemic have been curtailed somewhat in the developed ...The Human Immunodeficiency Virus and the resultant disease—Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome are global epidemics in recent times. Although the effects of the epidemic have been curtailed somewhat in the developed world, it is not so in developing countries. As such it affects not only the infected but those directly dependent on them. Some of the affected people have been identified as children, who turn out to be unprepared for and defenceless against the imminent hardship prevalent as a consequence of the disease. The effects of the epidemic are felt more in the developing world than in developed countries and this is because the attitude of the developed world to the epidemic is positive, enhanced by awareness of the disease;whereas in the developing countries, a lot of myths are attached to it, affecting the requisite attitude needed to combat the epidemic and its effects. This paper seeks to examine the effects of this epidemic on children in Nigeria, comparing the effects on children in other African countries. The paper also looks at structures in place to cater for these children, and then seeks to proffer improved means of protecting their rights.展开更多
Aim: To critically evaluate data and arguments by Van Howe defending his stance opposing male circumcision (MC), in particular his meta-regression analyses evaluating the ability of MC to reduce HIV infection risk in ...Aim: To critically evaluate data and arguments by Van Howe defending his stance opposing male circumcision (MC), in particular his meta-regression analyses evaluating the ability of MC to reduce HIV infection risk in heterosexual populations within and outside Africa. Methods: We performed metaregression analysis of log odds of HIV infection between uncircumcised and circumcised men using a single covariate (MC prevalence) in the meta-regression model involving the metareg package in STATA 13 for 103 populations worldwide and for populations within Africa. The meta-regression of log odds and MC prevalence was fitted to a line, as were empirical Bayes estimates resulting from post-estimation. Results: Our critical evaluation of Van Howe’s arguments attempting to undermine the scientific evidence in support of the benefits of MC in protection of men against HIV during heterosexual intercourse, as well as other infections and conditions, together with his use of statistics to support his beliefs, revealed serious flaws, obfuscation and missing data. We therefore performed our own meta-regression analysis using a trivariate model. Doing so revealed that for MC prevalences of 50%, 75% and 100% for general populations within Africa, odds ratios for HIV risk in uncircumcised vs. circumcised men were 1.35, 1.58 and 1.85, respectively. Our meta-regression analysis of data for all countries yielded similar findings. For a general population outside Africa with 100% MC prevalence, OR was 1.5. Van Howe failed to acknowledge that since MC prevalence in US whites (91%) and blacks (76%) exceeds 75% his results support MC having a protective effect in those population groups. Conclusions: The protective effect of MC against HIV infection during heterosexual intercourse applies to populations both within and outside Africa. The debate engineered by MC opponents, and led by Van Howe, now appears to have run its course. The scientific evidence has prevailed.展开更多
构建一类具有VCT(voluntary counseling and testing)意识及媒体报道影响的HIV/AIDS感染动力学模型.首先得到模型解的适定性,并给出模型的基本再生数.其次,借助Hurwitz判别法及Lyapunov函数分析模型的阈值动力学,当R_(0)<1时无病平...构建一类具有VCT(voluntary counseling and testing)意识及媒体报道影响的HIV/AIDS感染动力学模型.首先得到模型解的适定性,并给出模型的基本再生数.其次,借助Hurwitz判别法及Lyapunov函数分析模型的阈值动力学,当R_(0)<1时无病平衡点局部渐近稳定且当R_(0)≤1时全局渐近稳定;当R_(0)>1时,地方病平衡点局部渐近稳定.进一步,结合持续生存理论给出疾病的一致持续性.最后,数值模拟表明随着VCT意识比例的提高,艾滋病患者人数的峰值逐渐降低,而随着信息失效率的增大,艾滋病患者人数的峰值将有所提高.展开更多
The atmospheric corrosion monitoring(ACM)technique has been widely employed to track the real-time corrosion behavior of metal materials.However,limited studies have applied ACM to the corrosion protection properties ...The atmospheric corrosion monitoring(ACM)technique has been widely employed to track the real-time corrosion behavior of metal materials.However,limited studies have applied ACM to the corrosion protection properties of organic coatings.This study compared a bare epoxy coating with one containing zinc phosphate corrosion inhibitors,both applied on ACM sensors,to observe their corrosion protection properties over time.Coatings with artificial damage via scratches were exposed to immersion and alternating dry and wet environments,which allowed for monitoring galvanic corrosion currents in real-time.Throughout the corrosion tests,the ACM currents of the zinc phosphate/epoxy coating were considerably lower than those of the blank epoxy coating.The trend in ACM current variations closely matched the results obtained from regular electrochemical tests and surface analysis.This alignment highlights the potential of the ACM technique in evaluating the corrosion protection capabilities of organic coatings.Compared with the blank epoxy coating,the zinc phosphate/epoxy coating showed much-decreased ACM current values that confirmed the effective inhibition of zinc phosphate against steel corrosion beneath the damaged coating.展开更多
This study directs the discussion of HIV disease with a novel kind of complex dynamical generalized and piecewise operator in the sense of classical and Atangana Baleanu(AB)derivatives having arbitrary order.The HIV i...This study directs the discussion of HIV disease with a novel kind of complex dynamical generalized and piecewise operator in the sense of classical and Atangana Baleanu(AB)derivatives having arbitrary order.The HIV infection model has a susceptible class,a recovered class,along with a case of infection divided into three sub-different levels or categories and the recovered class.The total time interval is converted into two,which are further investigated for ordinary and fractional order operators of the AB derivative,respectively.The proposed model is tested separately for unique solutions and existence on bi intervals.The numerical solution of the proposed model is treated by the piece-wise numerical iterative scheme of Newtons Polynomial.The proposed method is established for piece-wise derivatives under natural order and non-singular Mittag-Leffler Law.The cross-over or bending characteristics in the dynamical system of HIV are easily examined by the aspect of this research having a memory effect for controlling the said disease.This study uses the neural network(NN)technique to obtain a better set of weights with low residual errors,and the epochs number is considered 1000.The obtained figures represent the approximate solution and absolute error which are tested with NN to train the data accurately.展开更多
In the last decade, the long-term survival among people living with HIV (PLHIV) has significantly improved. This is accompanied by an increased burden of non-communicable diseases such as hypertension due to the combi...In the last decade, the long-term survival among people living with HIV (PLHIV) has significantly improved. This is accompanied by an increased burden of non-communicable diseases such as hypertension due to the combined effect of the aging population and the metabolic effect of the Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) virion and antiretroviral therapy. This study aims to assess the prevalence and factors associated with hypertension among people living with HIV in three large health facilities in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional study employed a multistage sampling technique to select 309 adults with HIV, 18 years and above, receiving HIV care in three large health facilities in Nasarawa State. The outcome variable was the participants’ self-reported history of hypertension, confirmed through a positive history of hypertension treatment. Exposure variables included the participant’s socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, and HIV care and treatment history. Data were presented using frequency tables. Factors associated with hypertension were assessed using binary logistic regression at a 0.05 level of statistical significance. A total of 309 adults living with HIV were sampled. A larger percentage of the participants were married 228 (73.8%), female, 191 (61.8%), within the age group 41 - 50 years, 141 (45.6%). Most of the participants had no family history of hypertension, 188 (60.8%). The prevalence of self-reported hypertension was 11.0% (34/309). Factors associated with hypertension at the bivariate level were age group 21 - 30 years, 41 - 50 years, being widow/widower, divorced, retired from employment or with family history of hypertension. Only participants age group 31 - 40 years [Adjusted Odd Ratio (AOR): 0.18, 95%CI: 0.04 - 0.91, p = 0.04] and family history of hypertension [(AOR): 83.44, 95%CI: 15.75 - 442.11, p < 0.01] were found to predict hypertension among the study participants after adjusting for confounders. In conclusion, Hypertension remains a public health issue among PLHIV. Factors associated with hypertension among PLHIV include age and family history of hypertension. Regular screening for hypertension, its appropriate treatment and optimal control are essential in PLHIV.展开更多
文摘Background: Designing a need-based social protection intervention for children comes as comprehensive tool for addressing the overall quality of life of HIV positive children. Not much has been examined on what constitute the desired social protection framework for HIV positive children. Methods: This study was informed by a qualitative descriptive exploratory design approach. The study drew insights from the shared perspectives of 27 participants sampled from positive HIV status disclosed children—10 - 17 years, healthcare workers, Social and Development worker, HIV positive caregivers and parents from 7 ART clinics in rural and urban Brong Ahafo and Ashanti regions of Ghana. Data was collected through interviews and two focus group discussions with study participants. Drawing on the emerged themes from the transcripts, thematic content analysis was used to analyze the data using comparative thematic framework approach. Findings: The eclectic perspectives on the type of social protection policy/intervention preferred demonstrated the need for an interrelated and integrated social protection policy. This should not be designed in isolation towards addressing the child vulnerability. The study found that social protection policies aimed at addressing vulnerability levels of children should consider the dual vulnerability situation within which HIV positive children and adolescents are located. A set of unique specific tailored approach and package reflecting minimum combination social protection package to HIV positive children was considered essential for inclusion. The themes that emerged covered social policy/intervention package inclusive of a disease ending/eradication intervention package, cash transfer for children and their caregivers, free comprehensive health insurance integrating all consultancy and laboratory services charges, direct food supplements supply and nutritional support, research, target specified with evidenced-based monitoring. Counseling support and preferential treatment for children visiting ART for treatment were to be included. Conclusion: Combination social protection intervention packages remain the pathway to yielding maximum dividends on any social intervention that seeks to address the vulnerability levels of HIV positive children in Ghana. This should be designed taking into consideration the preference of the main target beneficiaries (HIV positive children) while accounting for the inclusion of the technical expertise of implementing stakeholders in the policy design from conceptualization to evaluation.
文摘The Human Immunodeficiency Virus and the resultant disease—Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome are global epidemics in recent times. Although the effects of the epidemic have been curtailed somewhat in the developed world, it is not so in developing countries. As such it affects not only the infected but those directly dependent on them. Some of the affected people have been identified as children, who turn out to be unprepared for and defenceless against the imminent hardship prevalent as a consequence of the disease. The effects of the epidemic are felt more in the developing world than in developed countries and this is because the attitude of the developed world to the epidemic is positive, enhanced by awareness of the disease;whereas in the developing countries, a lot of myths are attached to it, affecting the requisite attitude needed to combat the epidemic and its effects. This paper seeks to examine the effects of this epidemic on children in Nigeria, comparing the effects on children in other African countries. The paper also looks at structures in place to cater for these children, and then seeks to proffer improved means of protecting their rights.
文摘Aim: To critically evaluate data and arguments by Van Howe defending his stance opposing male circumcision (MC), in particular his meta-regression analyses evaluating the ability of MC to reduce HIV infection risk in heterosexual populations within and outside Africa. Methods: We performed metaregression analysis of log odds of HIV infection between uncircumcised and circumcised men using a single covariate (MC prevalence) in the meta-regression model involving the metareg package in STATA 13 for 103 populations worldwide and for populations within Africa. The meta-regression of log odds and MC prevalence was fitted to a line, as were empirical Bayes estimates resulting from post-estimation. Results: Our critical evaluation of Van Howe’s arguments attempting to undermine the scientific evidence in support of the benefits of MC in protection of men against HIV during heterosexual intercourse, as well as other infections and conditions, together with his use of statistics to support his beliefs, revealed serious flaws, obfuscation and missing data. We therefore performed our own meta-regression analysis using a trivariate model. Doing so revealed that for MC prevalences of 50%, 75% and 100% for general populations within Africa, odds ratios for HIV risk in uncircumcised vs. circumcised men were 1.35, 1.58 and 1.85, respectively. Our meta-regression analysis of data for all countries yielded similar findings. For a general population outside Africa with 100% MC prevalence, OR was 1.5. Van Howe failed to acknowledge that since MC prevalence in US whites (91%) and blacks (76%) exceeds 75% his results support MC having a protective effect in those population groups. Conclusions: The protective effect of MC against HIV infection during heterosexual intercourse applies to populations both within and outside Africa. The debate engineered by MC opponents, and led by Van Howe, now appears to have run its course. The scientific evidence has prevailed.
文摘构建一类具有VCT(voluntary counseling and testing)意识及媒体报道影响的HIV/AIDS感染动力学模型.首先得到模型解的适定性,并给出模型的基本再生数.其次,借助Hurwitz判别法及Lyapunov函数分析模型的阈值动力学,当R_(0)<1时无病平衡点局部渐近稳定且当R_(0)≤1时全局渐近稳定;当R_(0)>1时,地方病平衡点局部渐近稳定.进一步,结合持续生存理论给出疾病的一致持续性.最后,数值模拟表明随着VCT意识比例的提高,艾滋病患者人数的峰值逐渐降低,而随着信息失效率的增大,艾滋病患者人数的峰值将有所提高.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52371049)the Young Elite Scientists Sponsorship Program by the China Association for Science and Technology(YESS,No.2020QNRC001)the National Science and Technology Resources Investigation Program of China(Nos.2021FY100603 and 2019FY101404)。
文摘The atmospheric corrosion monitoring(ACM)technique has been widely employed to track the real-time corrosion behavior of metal materials.However,limited studies have applied ACM to the corrosion protection properties of organic coatings.This study compared a bare epoxy coating with one containing zinc phosphate corrosion inhibitors,both applied on ACM sensors,to observe their corrosion protection properties over time.Coatings with artificial damage via scratches were exposed to immersion and alternating dry and wet environments,which allowed for monitoring galvanic corrosion currents in real-time.Throughout the corrosion tests,the ACM currents of the zinc phosphate/epoxy coating were considerably lower than those of the blank epoxy coating.The trend in ACM current variations closely matched the results obtained from regular electrochemical tests and surface analysis.This alignment highlights the potential of the ACM technique in evaluating the corrosion protection capabilities of organic coatings.Compared with the blank epoxy coating,the zinc phosphate/epoxy coating showed much-decreased ACM current values that confirmed the effective inhibition of zinc phosphate against steel corrosion beneath the damaged coating.
基金supported and funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research at Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University(IMSIU)(grant number IMSIU-RP23066).
文摘This study directs the discussion of HIV disease with a novel kind of complex dynamical generalized and piecewise operator in the sense of classical and Atangana Baleanu(AB)derivatives having arbitrary order.The HIV infection model has a susceptible class,a recovered class,along with a case of infection divided into three sub-different levels or categories and the recovered class.The total time interval is converted into two,which are further investigated for ordinary and fractional order operators of the AB derivative,respectively.The proposed model is tested separately for unique solutions and existence on bi intervals.The numerical solution of the proposed model is treated by the piece-wise numerical iterative scheme of Newtons Polynomial.The proposed method is established for piece-wise derivatives under natural order and non-singular Mittag-Leffler Law.The cross-over or bending characteristics in the dynamical system of HIV are easily examined by the aspect of this research having a memory effect for controlling the said disease.This study uses the neural network(NN)technique to obtain a better set of weights with low residual errors,and the epochs number is considered 1000.The obtained figures represent the approximate solution and absolute error which are tested with NN to train the data accurately.
文摘In the last decade, the long-term survival among people living with HIV (PLHIV) has significantly improved. This is accompanied by an increased burden of non-communicable diseases such as hypertension due to the combined effect of the aging population and the metabolic effect of the Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) virion and antiretroviral therapy. This study aims to assess the prevalence and factors associated with hypertension among people living with HIV in three large health facilities in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional study employed a multistage sampling technique to select 309 adults with HIV, 18 years and above, receiving HIV care in three large health facilities in Nasarawa State. The outcome variable was the participants’ self-reported history of hypertension, confirmed through a positive history of hypertension treatment. Exposure variables included the participant’s socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, and HIV care and treatment history. Data were presented using frequency tables. Factors associated with hypertension were assessed using binary logistic regression at a 0.05 level of statistical significance. A total of 309 adults living with HIV were sampled. A larger percentage of the participants were married 228 (73.8%), female, 191 (61.8%), within the age group 41 - 50 years, 141 (45.6%). Most of the participants had no family history of hypertension, 188 (60.8%). The prevalence of self-reported hypertension was 11.0% (34/309). Factors associated with hypertension at the bivariate level were age group 21 - 30 years, 41 - 50 years, being widow/widower, divorced, retired from employment or with family history of hypertension. Only participants age group 31 - 40 years [Adjusted Odd Ratio (AOR): 0.18, 95%CI: 0.04 - 0.91, p = 0.04] and family history of hypertension [(AOR): 83.44, 95%CI: 15.75 - 442.11, p < 0.01] were found to predict hypertension among the study participants after adjusting for confounders. In conclusion, Hypertension remains a public health issue among PLHIV. Factors associated with hypertension among PLHIV include age and family history of hypertension. Regular screening for hypertension, its appropriate treatment and optimal control are essential in PLHIV.
