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Forest fires are major disturbances in forest ecosystems. The rapid detection of the spatial and temporal characteristics of fires is essential for formulating targeted post-fire vegetation restoration measures and assessing fire-induced carbon emissions. We propose an accurate and efficient framework for extracting the spatiotemporal characteristics of fires using vegetation change tracker (VCT) products and the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform. The VCT was used to extract areas of persistent forest and forest disturbance patches from Landsat images of Xichang and Muli, Liangshan prefecture, Sichuan province in southwestern China and Huma, Heilongjiang province, in northeastern China. All available Landsat images in the GEE platform in a year were normalized using the VCT-derived persisting forest mask to derive three standardized vegetation indices (normalized burn ratio (NBRr), normalized difference moisture index (NDMIr), and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVIr)). Historical forest disturbance events in Xichang were used to train two decision trees using the C4.5 data mining tool. The differenced NBRr, NDMIr, and NDVIr (dNBRr, dNDMIr, and dNDVIr) were obtained by calculating the difference in the index values between two temporally adjacent images. The occurrence time of disturbance events were extracted using the thresholds identified by decision tree 1. The use of all available images in GEE narrowed the disturbance occurrence time down to 16 days. This period was extended if images were not available or had cloud cover. Fire disturbances were distinguished from other disturbances by comparing the dNBRr, dNDMIr, and dNDVIr values with the thresholds identified by decision tree 2. The results showed that the proposed framework performed well in three study areas. The temporal accuracy for detecting disturbances in the three areas was 94.33%, 90.33%, and 89.67%, the classification accuracy of fire and non-fire disturbances was 85.33%, 89.67%, and 83.67%, and the Kappa coefficients were 0.71, 0.74, and 0.67, respectively. The proposed framework enables the efficient and rapid extraction of the spatiotemporal characteristics of forest fire disturbances using frequent Landsat time-series data, GEE, and VCT products. The results can be used in forest fire disturbance databases and to implement targeted post-disturbance vegetation restoration practices.

MSc (Population and Sustainable Development), North-West University, Mahikeng Campus HIV and AIDS have become the second most devastating global epidemic, after COVID-19, that the world has ever faced and highly affecting the young and economically active segment of the population. This epidemic is also a challenge in South Africa as new Infections of HIV increase among women more than in men. Effective behavioural change communication (BCC) strategies need to be designed to rescue the future development force of the nation. Thus, VCT for HIV is included as one of the strategies for HIV/AIDS prevention in HIV/AIDS policy, yet very little is known about what determines VCT services. Therefore, the study aims to identify Determinants of HIV and AIDS Testing among Women of Reproductive Age in South Africa. This study uses secondary data sourced from the 2016 South African Demographic and Health Survey (SADHS). The data were summarized, analysed using Univariate, bivariate and Multivariate analysis to show the association between variables, and a binary logistic regression model was used to show the impact of different determinants of VCT by controlling different confounders. The results from the analysis indicate that there is a significant relationship between the following variables; age, region, education, household quintile, a total lifetime number of sex partners, recent sexual activity and knowledge and use of HIV test kits, and the HIV VCT services. The results indicated that a significant number (90.1%) of women in the reproductive age group had ever tested for HIV and AIDS. Evidently, the analysis exhibits that the women who were aged between 30 to 34, 35 to 39, and 40 to 44 in South Africa were more likely to be tested than those in the younger group. Regarding marital status, the study found out that women who never married were likely to use VCT as compared to married women, living together and divorced or separated. According to the results, women in provinces such as Northern Cape, North West, Gauteng and Limpopo were found more likely to be tested for HIV as compared to other provinces. Educational level is another variable that was found significant in this study and participants with higher education were less likely to test as compared to those with no education level. In addition, women with working status were less likely to test for HIV. Finally, the results found that women engaging in unwarranted sexual risk behaviours by having sex with more than one partner were more likely to view the VCT services more favourably. The study, therefore, recommended that there must be a concerted effort to educate and increase awareness of HIV VCT services and sexual health knowledge. There should also be a comprehensive mobile application that will assist with HIV counselling for women who have HIV-positive and negative statuses. Stakeholders and Policy Makers should design and develop programmes that enhance positive sexual behaviour among the community members to promote better interpersonal relationship skills and psychological functioning. The study concluded by proposing further studies in the areas such as the influences of risky sexual behaviours and the causes of early sexual engagement amongst women. Masters

Pada tahun 2017 LSL merupakan kelompok risiko HIV tertinggi di Kabupaten Sukoharjo. VCT merupakan salah satu upaya pencegahan dan penanggulangan HIV/AIDS. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendeskripsikan keyakinan perilaku, dan sikap pada pemanfaatan Klinik VCT pada LSL di Sukoharjo. Jenis penelitian ini merupakan penelitian kualitatif dengan pendekatan studi kasus. Teknik pengumpulan data dengan cara wawancara mendalam kepada lima LSL yang pernah melakukan VCT dan dua informan triangulasi terdiri dari satu PE (Peer Educator) dan satu KL (Koordinator Lapangan) yang diambil dengan purposive sampling. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa seluruh LSL sudah pernah melakukan VCT namun hanya 4 LSL yang melakukannya secara rutin. Faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi LSL dalam melakukan VCT secara rutin setiap 3 bulan adalah keyakinan perilaku dan sikap. Namun faktor yang mendasari dalam melakukan VCT adalah keyakinan perilaku bahwa VCT memiliki keuntungan yang lebih banyak jika dibandingkan dengan kerugiannya. Sehingga peneliti menyarankan kepada petugas penanggulangan HIV/AIDS untuk meningkatkan jangkauan kepada LSL yang masih hidden agar VCT secara rutin setiap 3 bulan sekali.

Background HIV testing is an integral component of HIV prevention, treatment and care and, therefore, is crucial in achieving UNAIDS 90–90-90 targets. HIV testing in Kenya follows both the voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) and provider initiated testing and counselling (PITC) models. However, little is known about the individual experiences of undergoing an HIV test in the two testing models. This study provides experiential evidence of undergoing an HIV test in a resource poor urban slum setting. Methods The study explored testing experiences and challenges faced in respect to ensuring the 3 Cs (consent, counselling and confidentiality), using in-depth interviews (N = 41) with HIV-infected men and women in two slum settlements of Nairobi City. The in-depth interview respondents were aged above 18 years with 56% being females. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and then translated into English. The transcribed data were analysed using thematic analysis method. Results The respondent HIV-testing experiences were varied and greatly shaped by circumstances and motivation for HIV testing. The findings show both positive and negative experiences, with sporadic adherence to the 3Cs principle in both HIV testing models. Although some respondents were satisfied with the HIV testing process, a number of them raised a number of concerns, with instances of coercion and testing without consent being reported. Conclusion The 3Cs (consent, counselling and confidentiality) principle must underlie HIV testing and counselling practices in order to achieve positive testing outcomes. The study concludes that adherence to the 3Cs during HIV testing contributes to both the individual and public health good – irrespective of whether testing is initiated by the individual or by the health provider.

Introduction: Health sciences university students (HSUS) are susceptible to HIV infection due to frequent contact with patients whose HIV status is unknown. This study aimed to compare the HIV/AIDS-related knowledge and the willingness to participate in VCT among HSUS, analyzing the differences between groups, and correlation and effect between variables. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 357 HSUS from the faculty of nursing, pharmacy, psychology and medicine at an accredited university. Samples were selected using simple random sampling. Data analysis used descriptive statistic, Pearson correlation, one-way ANOVA test, and linear regression test (α

Civic Education is a very important subject in efforts to build the nation's character. Character building through Civics includes integrating character values in lectures. Value clarification techniques are considered superior for affective learning (learning to form attitudes/values). Through value clarification, learning activities no longer require students to memorize and understand the values that have been chosen by others but are assisted in finding, analyzing, taking responsibility, developing, choosing, taking attitudes, and practising the values in their own lives. This research is a pre-experimental research design. The method used in this research is the Intact Group Comparison design method. The research subjects were students of the Department of Early Childhood Education (PAUD) UNJA who took the general course of civic education. Subjects were divided into 2 groups, namely the control group using the conventional approach, and the experimental group using the Value clarification techniques. The instrument used in this study is a test instrument. The collected data were analyzed using the t-test. Based on the results of the study, it can be concluded that the integration of character education in civic education courses through Value clarification techniques is more effective than conventional ones. _________ Abstrak Pendidikan Kewarganegaraan merupakan mata kuliah yang sangat penting dalam upaya pembangunan karakter bangsa. Pembangunan karakter melalui PKn di antaranya pengintegrasian nilai-nilai karakter dalam perkuliahan. Teknik klarifikasi nilai dianggap lebih unggul untuk pembelajaran afektif (pembelajaran pembentukan sikap/nilai). Melalui pengklarifikasian nilai, kegiatan pembelajaran tidak lagi sekedar menuntut peserta didik agar hafal dan paham akan nilai-nilai yang sudah dipilihkan pihak lain, melainkan dibantu untuk mencari, menganalisa, mempertanggung jawabkan, mengembangkan, memilih, mengambil sikap, dan mengamalkan nilai-nilai dalam kehidupannya sendiri. Penelitian ini adalah penelitian Pre-Eksperimental Design . Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah metode rancangan Intact Group Comparison. Subjek penelitian adalah mahasiswa Jurusan Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini (PAUD) UNJA yang mengikuti mata kuliah umum PKn. Subjek dibagi menjadi 2 kelompok yakni kelompok kontrol dengan menggunakan pendekatan konvensional, dan eksperimen menggunakan Teknik klarifikasi nilai. Instrumen yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah instrumen tes . Data yang terkumpul dianalisis dengan menggunakan uji t. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian dapat disimpulkan pengintegrasian pendidikan karakter dalam mata kuliah PKn melalui Teknik klarifikasi nilai lebih efektif dibandingkan dengan konvensional.

Background There is limited information about the psychosocial sub-determinants regarding the use of HIV Testing and Counselling (HTC) services among suspected Tuberculosis (TB) patients in Sudan. This study aimed to assess the association between psychosocial beliefs and the intention to use HTC services and to establish the relevance of these beliefs for developing behaviour change interventions among suspected TB patients. Methods Suspected TB patients (N = 383) from four separate TB facilities completed a cross-sectional questionnaire which was based on the Reasoned Action Approach theory. Eligibility criteria included attending Tuberculosis Management Units in Kassala State as suspected TB patients and aged 18–64 years. A Confidence Interval Based Estimation of Relevance (CIBER) analysis approach was employed to investigate the association of the beliefs with the intention to use HTC services and to establish their relevance to be targeted in behaviour change interventions. Results The CIBER results showed the beliefs included in the study accounted for 59 to 70% of the variance in intention to use HTC services. The belief “My friends think I have to use HTC services” was positively associated with the intent to use HTC, and it is highly relevant for intervention development. The belief “I would fear to be stigmatized if I get a HIV positive result” was negatively related to the intention to use HTC services and was considered a highly relevant belief. The belief “If I use HTC services, health care providers will keep my HIV test result confidential” was strongly associated with the intention to use HTC services. However, the relevance of this belief as a target for future interventions development was relatively low. Past experience with HTC services was weakly associated with the intention to use HTC services. Conclusion The intention to use HTC was a function of psychosocial beliefs. The beliefs investigated varied in their relevance for interventions designed to encourage the use of HTC services. Interventions to promote intention to use HIV testing and counselling services should address the most relevant beliefs (sub-determinants). Further study is needed to establish the relevance of sub-determinants of the intention to use HTC services for interventions development.

Betong är ett material som vid framtagning av huvudråvaran cementklinker släpper ut stora mängder koldioxid. Enligt nationella klimatmål ska det finnas klimatneutral betong på svenska marknaden till år 2030 och betongen ska nå nettonollutsläpp till år 2045. Ett intensivt utvecklingsarbete pågår i betongbranschen och olika strategier diskuteras för att uppnå lägre klimatpåverkan. Syftet med arbetet är att undersöka hur betongbranschen arbetar mot klimatneutralitet och se hur långt aktörerna kommit i det arbetet. Syftet är även att öka statistiken för klimatförbättrad betong samt se hur den klimatförbättrade betongen står sig mot standarden ftSS 137003:2020 som är under revidering. Arbetet genomfördes genom litteraturstudier, enkätundersökning och dokumentanalys. Litteraturstudien har legat till grund för den teoretiska bakgrunden. Enkätundersökningen som skickades ut till betongtillverkare är primärkällan i studien och har gett en bild av hur branschen ligger till i dagsläget gällande användning av klimatförbättrad betong. Studien kompletterades med en dokumentanalys i form av granskning av EPD:er samt den reviderade standarden. Dokumentanalysen undersökte vilken klimatförbättrad betong som finns redan idag samt hur ändringar i standarden påverkar förutsättningarna för klimatförbättrad betong. Enkätundersökningen och granskningen av EPD:erna visade att viss klimatförbättrad betong redan finns i dagsläget, men att det inte används i så stor utsträckning. Drygt hälften av betongproducenterna hade inte någon klimatförbättrad betong på marknaden i nuläget, men merparten arbetar med att ta fram det och de flesta beräknar att ha det på marknaden inom ett till tre år. Majoriteten av betongtillverkarna var positiva till att all deras betong kommer vara klimatneutral till år 2045. Något som både litteraturstudien och enkätundersökningen fastställde var att samverkan mellan olika aktörer i ett tidigt skede är viktigt för att uppnå klimatneutralitet. För att nå klimatmålen krävs dessutom både att producenterna fortsätter arbeta mot klimatmålen men också mer kunskap och medvetenhet hos konsumenterna. During the production of concrete, a large amount of carbon dioxide is emitted. The Swedish national climate target goal aims for climate-neutral concrete on the Swedish market by 2030 and to further attain a net zero emission by 2045. The concrete production industry is working on strategies to reach these goals and thereby attain a lower climate impact. This study aims to examine how the concrete industry works towards climate neutrality and to see how far they have come in accordance to this goal. A further purpose for this study is to increase the statistics for climate improved concrete and to compare how the climate improved concrete measures up to the revised standard ftSS 137003:2020. The study made use of a literature review, a survey and a document analysis. Through the literature review, information was acquired on theoretical background relating to the interest of study. The data obtained from the survey sent out to concrete producers constituted the primary source. This provided information regarding the current situation in relation to climate improved concrete. As a complement to the survey, the study also did a document analysis of EPDs as well as the revised standard. This tool was used to analyse existing climate improved concrete respectively to examine the revised standard in order to establish how alterations in the standard affects the conditions for climate improved concrete. Based on the results obtained from the survey and analysis of the EPDs, some climate improved concrete are currently available, yet in limited usage. Most of the concrete producers are lacking climate improved concrete on the market, but most of them are working towards this goal with the aim to have such a product on the market within one to three years. The majority of concrete producers are convinced that their concrete will be climate-neutral by the year 2045. Both the literature review and the survey confirmed the importance of collaboration between different actors during an early stage in order to attain climate neutrality in concrete production. To attain the climate goals it requires that concrete producers continue to work towards the climate goals, but moreover, the knowledge and awareness among consumers is also essential.

Background: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) / Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) has been a global problem nowadays. To reduce its spread, Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) and Provider-Initiated Testing and Counseling (PITC) have been provided. However, these interventions remain ineffective to discover new cases, as the stigma among health officers may exist. Objective: To compare the stigma towards people living with HIV/AIDS between VCT and PITC officers. Methods: This was a descriptive comparative conducted in Makassar City, Parepare City and Sidenreng Rappang Regency, South Sulawesi Province Indonesia. There were 139 samples were selected using convenience sampling technique, which consisted of 66 VCT counseling officers and 73 PITC officers. The questionnaire from Health Policy Project in Thailand was used to measure the HIV/AIDS related-stigma. Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis and Mann Whitney test. Results: Findings show that there was a statistically significant difference in stigma between the group of VCT and PITC on people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), which the mean of stigma in the PITC group (73.07) was higher than the mean value in the VCT group (66.61). Conclusion: There is a significant difference in stigma between VCT and PITC officers towards PLWHA. It is suggested that PITC curriculum should be evaluated and supervision and monitoring in both VCT and PITC groups should be implemented regularly to reduce the stigma towards PLWHA.

Kelompok usia reproduktif tersebut menyumbang lebih dari 70% kasus AIDS, namun dalam SDKI 2012 pada wanita 15-49 tahun dan pria kawin umur 15-54 tahun yang pernah mendengar tentang HIV/AIDS, tidak sesuai dengan tingkat pengetahuan tentang cara mengurangi risiko tertular HIV/AIDS. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui hubungan antara pengetahuan tentang HIV/AIDS dengan pemanfaatan layanan VCT. Desain penelitian ini adalah penelitian survei analitik, pendekatan yang digunakan adalah cross sectional. Teknik sampel yang digunakan accidental sampling sebanyak 30 responden datang ke layanan VCT Puskesmas Gedongtengen. Teknik analisa data menggunakan uji chi square. Penelitian ini menunjukkan berdasarkan hasil Uji chi square didapatkan hasil bahwa terdapat hubungan antara pengetahuan dan pemanfaatan pelayanan VCT di Puskesmas Gedongtengen. Berdasarkan hasil dapat diambil kesimpulan yaitu terdapat hubungan antara pengetahuan dan pemanfaatan pelayanan VCT di Puskesmas Gedongtengen. Deteksi dini diri sendiri terhadap infeksi HIV dianjurkan demi terciptanya masyarakat sehat. Terutama saat akan menikah dan merencanakan kehamilan dengan mendatangi puskesmas yang menyediakan pelayanan VCT.

Introduction: VCT is one of the efforts of the prison to minimize the risk of HIV/AIDS on Injecting Drug User Prisoners. But there are still obstacles in the implementation of this program in prison. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the VCT in Class I Surabaya Prison.Method: This study used qualitative and quantitative method. Samples to evaluate the VCT Program among Offi cer, Clinical Officers who carry out VCT and NGOs as well as four IDU prisoners selected using purposive sampling. Samples to describe prisoner's characteristic and risk factor of HIV/AIDS from behavior aspect were 60 prisoners. Data were collected by filling out the questionnaire and in depth interview.Result: The results were analyzed by qualitative descriptive narrative. The results of this study was a major behavioral factors that lead to the incidence of HIV/AIDS on injecting drug user prisoners, unsafe sexual behavior and tattooing.Discussion: As for the evaluation of VCT was not performed well. In terms of input, the human resources sector and source of funds and independent laboratory facilities were deemed less. On process aspects, the sector of pre-and post-test counseling and support programs was still not optimal. In the aspect of output, an indicator to measure the success of VCT, patient satisfaction questionnaire coverage and effort to VCT client was still not implemented. It is necessary to enhance the implementation of VCT and to realize a program especially for drug user prisoners to prevent and control the transmission of HIV/AIDS such as harm reduction program.

Background: Despite the successes of testing campaigns in South Africa, many people still do not know their human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status, and the number of new infections remains high. Delayed access to testing is a contributing factor in this regard. Utilising less conventional health settings to test for HIV, such as optometry practices, could help increase the opportunities to test for HIV. Aim: To investigate the potential of the optometry environment as a possible contributor to capacity building for HIV testing and counselling services. Setting: Three optometry practices in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. Methods: A survey design approach was used with participants ( n = 30) completing a researcher-designed 16-item questionnaire. Results: The results showed that the optometry environment was generally perceived as conducive for possible HIV testing, as the majority of participants felt that testing for HIV at an optometry practice would be more convenient (90%; n = 27), compared to testing at a clinic, with a clear preference for testing for HIV at an optometry practice as opposed to a clinic (93%; n = 27). Conclusion: The results of this study seem to illustrate a willingness within the optometry patient population to be receptive to the possibility of screening for HIV. However, while optometry falls within the ambit of primary health services for vision and eye health, the profession is yet to produce a guideline document detailing the exact scope of practitioners with regard to systemic health screenings. As such, HIV screening is not specified at present.

Stockholm Vatten has decided to close down the Bromma waste water treatment plantand manage the waste water from Bromma together with the waste water from the formerEolshällsverket to Henriksdal’s waste water treatment plant. Henriksdals wastewater treatment plant will be expanded for higher purification requirements and loads,estimated to be finished until 2040. This entails extensive renovations and additionsto the existing treatment plant in and on Henriksdalsberget, as well as a major expansionof the Sickla plant.The purpose of the study is to investigate an environmentally friendly alternative tothe standard concrete that will be used for the expansion of the Sickla plant. The largestenvironmental villain in concrete is the cement. The aim of this study has beento replace the cement with environmentally friendly additives in the largest possibleamount, thus reducing the negative impact of the cement on the environment.In the present study, a review was made of obtained data with exposure classes, then aliterature study was performed to gain knowledge in the area. With help from experts,two fictitious recipes for each exposure class have been calculated for the standardconcrete and the green concrete. In this way, a careful comparison between the concretetypes was made of the cement’s impact on global warming. Thereafter, a study wascarried out on existing EPDs, which were incorporated into the One Click LCA (2015)software. An LCA in the mentioned software was carried out, which enabled data to becompiled and a comparison of the climate impact between the four different fictitiousrecipes has been done.Compiled and compared data from LCA and analysis of EPDs show that 70% of thestructure with exposure class XD2 gets a 47% reduction in global warming when usinggreen concrete instead of standard concrete. Furthermore, the results show that theremaining 30% of the structure with exposure class XF3/XC4 gets a 20% reductionwhen using green concrete instead of standard concrete. The total reduction in globalwarming when using green concrete instead of standard concrete for the expansion ofSickla treatment plant was calculated to be 40%. Stockholm Vatten har beslutat att lägga ned Bromma reningsverk och leda avloppsvattnetfrån Bromma tillsammans med avloppsvattnet från det forna Eolshällsverkettill Henriksdals reningsverk. Henriksdals reningsverk ska byggas ut för högre reningskravoch belastningar beräknade till år 2040. Detta medför omfattande om- och tillbyggnationeri det befintliga reningsverket i och på Henriksdalsberget samt en storutbyggnad av Sicklaanläggningen.Syftet med detta arbete är att undersöka ett miljövänligare alternativ till standardbetongensom ska användas vid utbyggnaden av Sicklaanläggningen. Då den främsta”miljöboven” i betongen är cementet har målet med denna studie varit att ersätta cementetmed miljövänliga tillsatsmaterial i största möjliga mängd, i syfte att minskacementets negativa inverkan på miljön.I föreliggande arbete har en genomgång utförts på erhållna data med exponeringsklasser,därefter påbörjades en litteraturstudie i syfte att inhämta kunskaper inomområdet. Med hjälp av experter har två fiktiva recept för respektive exponeringsklassräknats fram för standardbetongen och den gröna betongen. Med denna metod genomfördesen noggrann jämförelse mellan de olika recepten avseende cementets inverkanpå den globala uppvärmningen. Därefter undersöktes existerande EPD:er, vilka infogadesin i programvaran One Click LCA (2015). En LCA i den nämnda programvaranutfördes, vilket möjliggjorde att data kunde sammanställas och en jämförelse av klimatpåverkanmellan de fyra olika fiktiva recepten kunde genomföras.Sammanställd och jämförd data från LCA och analys av EPD:er visar att 70% av konstruktionenmed exponeringsklass XD2 får en reducering på 47% på den globala uppvärmningenvid användning av grön betong istället för standardbetong. Vidare visarresultatet att resterande 30% av konstruktionen med exponeringsklass XF3/XC4 fåren reduktion på 20% vid användning av grön betong istället för standardbetong. Dentotala reduktionen på den globala uppvärmningen vid användning av grön betongistället för standardbetong för utbyggnaden av Sickla reningsverk beräknades till 40%.

Under de senaste åren har tillverkningsprocessen av betong genomgått en förändring föratt göra materialet och processer mer miljövänliga. Detta är en följd av att betong räknasvara ett av de viktigaste byggnadsmaterialen i världen. En viktig anledning till denomfattande användningen av betong är att betong som material är fuktbeständigt, att detinte möglar och att det är väldigt formbart.Förenta nationerna nämner 17 globala mål vars uppgift är att främja hållbarhet i framtidendär mål nio anger ”Bygga upp en motståndskraftig infrastruktur, verka för eninkluderande och hållbar industrialisering och främja innovation”. Detta faktum måstenaturligtvis tas hänsyn till även vid tillverkningen av betong och dess beståndsdelar.Syftet med det här examensarbetet är att med hjälp av ett stort antal mätpunkter visa påolika styrkor och svagheter inom tre olika typer av prognostiserande beräkningsverktygav torkningstider. Målet med arbetet är att jämföra statistik av praktiska mätningar,utfärdade av Conservator AB, med varandra och med de tre vanligasteberäkningsprogrammen som används för att beräkna uttorkningstider av betong.I de undersökta byggdelarna i arbetet gav TorkaS den högsta noggrannheten och sedanföljt väldigt nära av PPB. Utöver detta uppfyller de förväntningar som borde kunna ställaspå prognostisering av uttorkningstid för betong. Studien har också visat attuttorkningstiden för betong i nyproduktion påverkas mest av uttorkningsklimatet och tjockleken på avjämningsmassan. In the recent years, the manufacturing of concrete has undergone a change to make theprocesses and the material more environmentally friendly. This is accompanied by thefact that concrete is one of the most important building materials in the world. This islargely because concrete as a material is moisture resistant, does not mold and is highlyformable.The United Nations mentions 17 global goals whose mission is to promote sustainabilityin the future whereas the ninth one states that “Build resilient infrastructure, promoteinclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”. This leads to the factthat it needs to take in consideration the manufacturing of concrete and its components.The purpose of this research is to show strengths and weaknesses in prediction tools forconcretes drying time by comparison with data from many measuring points. Besidesthat, the aim is to compare statistics of practical measurements, which were issued byConservator AB, with each other and with other three most commonly used programs inforecasting the drying time for concrete, i.e. TorkaS, BI-Dry and PPB.From the building sections that were researched, TorkaS gave the highest accuracy inforecasting the drying time and then followed very closely by PPB. In addition, BI-Drydid not meet the expected requirements on some of the building sections. Besides that, thestudy has shown that the drying time of concrete in new production is most influenced bythe drying climate and the thickness of the compound.

BACKGROUND: The quality of life (QoL) construct has also contributed to understanding the comprehension of factors involved in the existence of people infected by the HIV/AIDS. The objective of this study is to assess the quality of life (QoL) of people with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Wonogiri District, Indonesia.METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from September to November 2017. Convenience sampling method was employed to recruit 39 people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) at Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) of Wonogiri, Indonesia. Research data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire of WHOQOL-HIV BREF. The data were further analysed using a ttest and a Chi-square test, while linear regression was used to evaluate factors that correlate with the PLWHAs’ quality of life.RESULTS: The results showed that the gross mean score of social relationships domain is 13.59; psychological domain is 13.31;environment domain is 13.28; spiritual/personal beliefs domainis 13.15; physical domain is 13.10; and level of independence domain is 13.77. The symptom of HIV is associated with quality of life (B =7.611, β = 0.362, t = 2,046, p value = 0.049).CONCLUSION: Healthcare provider should increase providerinitiated testing and counselling (PITC) to contracting group, high risk group, susceptible group, and the community. The PLWHA are recommended to actively participate in peer support groups (PSGs) so that they can improve their quality of life.

ObjectiveAlthough incredible progress has been made in treatment and prevention of Hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus infections, the epidemic continues to spread in developing nations. The information on the prevalence and risk factors of Hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus infections among voluntary counseling and testing clients in Ethiopia is limited. Hence, the study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of Hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus infections among voluntary counseling and testing clients attending private health facilities in Bahir Dar city.ResultA total of 382 study participants with the mean age of 25.43 years (SD = ± 6.87) were enrolled. Overall, 14 (3.7%) and 8 (2.1%) voluntary counseling and testing clients were positive for human immunodeficiency virus and Hepatitis C virus respectively. All Hepatitis C virus antibody positive individuals were males (3.8%). The sero-prevalence of Hepatitis C virus was significantly associated with the age group 41–50 years old (AOR = 65.65; 95% CI 4.57–943). Married study participants were also significantly associated with HIV infection (AOR = 7.92, 95% CI 1.32–47.31).

Background: The increasing incidences of Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) and Human Immonodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection are becoming serious public health concerns in Indonesia and other countries. These issues are of concern that call for close attention not only for general public but also for male and female prisoners. As studies have shown the prevalences of HIV and syphilis were 1.1% and 5.1% in male prisoners, respectively, 6% and 8.5% in female prisoners. For those reasons, at some jails Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) have been provided for HIV/AIDS control and prevention. The success of the screening program with VCT would depend on the provision of supplies, equipment, infrastructure, health personnel, and fund. This study aimed to analyze the adequacy of various inputs in the STI screening program with VCT for prisoners at the Class II A female jail, in Malang, East Java.Subjects and Method: This was a qualitative study with evaluation approach. This study was conducted at the Class II A female jail, in Malang, East Java. The study applied CIPP (Context, Input, Process, Product) evaluation model. Key informants for this study included health personnels at the Class II A female jail clinics, in Malang, East Java, the STI mobile health care team from Arjuno Community Health Center Malang, and female prisoners, who were known as Warga Binaan Pemasyarakatan (WBP)Results: Average monthly visits at the VCT clinic were 21 female prisoners, which amounted to only a few of the total number of female prisoners. The health care team involved in the STI screening with VCT program, included skilled health personnel from the jail and the mobile STI team from Arjuno Community Health Center, Malang. The sources of fund for these programs came from the International as well as domestic funding agencies. The International funding came from the Global Fund. The domestic funding came from the Ministry of Law and Human Civil Rights, and the Municipality Health Office Malang, which provided reagents and medicine. Supplies, equipments, and infrastructure, were provided by Arjuno Community Health Center Malang and the Class II A female jail clinics, in Malang. The laboratory was provided by the health center. The reagents were sufficiently provided by the municipality health office, although there was a supply delay in February 2016.Conclusion: Inputs of the STI screening with VCT program at the Class II A female jail clinics, in Malang, East Java, which included supplies, equipment, infrastructure, health personnel, and funding, are sufficiently provided. Keywords: analysis, input, screening, STI, VCTCorrespondence: Rosyidah Alfitri. Diploma III School of Midwifery, Dr. Soepraoen Hospital, Malang. Email: elfitri.mafaza@gmail.com.Journal of Epidemiology and Public Health (2016), 1(2): 118-124https://doi.org/10.26911/jepublichealth.2016.01.02.05

Many post-fire on-site factors, including fire severity, management strategies, topography, and local climate, are concerns for forest managers and recovery ecologists to formulate forest vegetation recovery plans in response to climate change. We used the Vegetation Change Tracker (VCT) algorithm to map forest disturbance in the Daxing’anling area, Northeastern China, from 1987 to 2016. A support vector machine (SVM) classifier and historical fire records were used to separate burned patches from disturbance patches obtained from VCT. Afterward, stepwise multiple linear regression (SMLR), SVM, and random forest (RF) were applied to assess the statistical relationships between vegetation recovery characteristics and various influential factors. The results indicated that the forest disturbance events obtained from VCT had high spatial accuracy, ranging from 70% to 86% for most years. The overall accuracy of the annual fire patches extracted from the proposed VCT-SVM algorithm was over 92%. The modeling accuracy of post-fire vegetation recovery was excellent, and the validation results confirmed that the RF algorithm provided better prediction accuracy than SVM and SMLR. In conclusion, topographic variables (e.g., elevation) and meteorological variables (e.g., the post-fire annual precipitation in the second year, the post-fire average relative humidity in the fifth year, and the post-fire extreme maximum temperature in the third year) jointly affect vegetation recovery in this cold temperate continental monsoon climate region.

Syfte: Byggindustrin kommer framförallt att påverkas av hållbarhetsutvecklingens framfart. FN har satt hållbarhetsmål presenterade i Agenda 2030 och för att möta dessa mål måste hållbarhet stå i fokus för både yrkesverksamma och intressenter. Betong är ett material som består av ballast, vatten och cement som hårdnar över tiden och används världen över inom byggindustrin. År 2014 uppskattades betongproduktionen stå för hela fem procent av alla antropogena koldioxidutsläpp. Syftet med studien är att undersöka miljöpåverkan från olika betongkvaliteter mätt i koldioxidekvivalenter och använda resultatet för att påvisa om konstruktörer kan göra någon skillnad via sina kravspecifikationer på betong. Metod: En litteraturstudie genomfördes inledningsvis för att säkerställa studiens relevans samt skapa kunskap kring området. LCA och dokumentanalys av EPD möjliggjorde jämförelse av klimatpåverkan och data kunde sammanställas. Resultat: Sammanställd och jämförd data från LCA och dokumentanalys tyder på att konstruktörer kan minska klimatpåverkan genom att föreskriva högre vct och lägre exponeringsklass. Detta möjliggör att en större andel cement kan bytas ut mot tillsatsmaterial. Litteraturstudie tyder på att konstruktörens arbete för att minska klimatpåverkan från betong kan direkt kopplas till mål 13 i Agenda 2030. Mål 13 verkar bland annat för att Sverige inte skall ha några nettoutsläpp av växthusgaser 2045. Konsekvenser: Om konstruktörer i den mån det är möjligt föreskriver högre vct och lägre exponeringsklasser tyder studien på att de kan minska klimatpåverkan från betong. Att föreskriva högre vct och lägre exponeringsklasser är dock inte alltid möjligt med hänsyn till hållfasthet och omgivning. Studien bidrar till att skapa förståelse för hur stora skillnader gällande klimatpåverkan som kan uppstå beroende på betongkvalitet. Begränsningar: Betong erhåller många egenskaper och en uppsjö av parametrar som påverkar dessa egenskaper. Genom att avgränsa studien och bortse från en del parametrar finns risk för orättvisa resultat. Data som används är publicerad data samt data som betongleverantören vill tillge vilket ger ett bristande verklighetsperspektiv. Majoriteten av betongkvaliteterna som analyserades är av en klimatförbättrad betong och har därmed en lägre klimatpåverkan än vad som vanligen används på plats om inte krav finns. På grund av omgivning och andra förhållanden är det inte alltid möjligt för konstruktören att föreskriva högre vct och lägre exponeringsklass. Studiens fokus ligger på klimatpåverkan vilket begränsar möjligheten att koppla resultatet till flera miljömål. Purpose: The construction industry will be fundamentally impacted by sustainable development progression. The United Nations have set goals outlined in the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development. To meet this desired progression, these goals must stand in focus for construction professionals and industry stakeholders. Concrete is a composite material made from aggregates, fluids and cement which hardens over time and is widely used in the construction industry. In 2014 it was estimated to account for more than five percent of all anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions. The purpose of this study is to investigate the climate impact of various concrete mixtures measured as carbon dioxide equivalents and use this to inform whether construction designers can make a difference through the specifications of concrete mixtures. Method: A literature review was conducted to ensure relevance of the study and establish a knowledge base regarding the subject. LCA and a document analysis of EPDs made it possible to compare climate impacts and data could be compiled. Findings: Data from LCA and document analysis indicates that construction designers can reduce the climate impact through their specifications by subscribing higher w/c ratios and lower exposure classes. This enable a bigger amount of the cement to be traded by additives. A literature study indicates that reducing the climate impact of concrete can directly be related to goal 13 in Agenda 2030. In Sweden, goal 13 is to reach no net emissions of greenhouse gases by 2045. Implications: If construction designers specify higher w/c ratio and lower exposure classes, they can reduce the climate impact from concrete. To specify higher w/c ratio and lower exposure class is not always possible depending on the structural requirements. The study adds to an understanding of the climate impact depending on concrete mixtures. Limitations: Concrete obtains many characteristics which is affected by multiple parameters. Limiting the study data and ignoring some parameters increases the risk of deceptive results. Publicly available concrete certifications and data from concrete professionals is combined in this study. Most of the concrete mixtures selected for analysis are climate friendly types and therefore the results would differ if regular concrete was used. Because of structural requirements and other conditions, it is not always possible for the construction designer to specify higher w/c ratio and lower exposure class. This study focuses on climate impacts which limits the possibility to make connections to multiple sustainable development goals.

Håldäcksbjälklag är ett fördelaktigt bjälklagsalternativ på grund av dess många fördelar så som reducerad vikt och snabbt montage. Däremot har bland annat korta byggtider medfört att betongblandningar med lågt vct och hög andel cement efterfrågats av Strängbetongs kunder för att reducera risken för fuktproblematik, då en snabb uttorkning eftersträvas. Med en allt strängare och ambitiösare miljömålsättning har ett behov för att reducera andelen cement uppkommit. Vid en minskad cementmängd ökar således betongens vct vilket leder till en miljövänligare framställning samtidigt som en ekonomisk vinning erhålls. Syftet med undersökningen är därför att undersöka om olika betongblandningar med ett högre vct kan ersätta den nuvarande betongblandningen och samtidigt uppfylla förekommande uttorkningskrav. Detta skulle innebära fördelar för såväl producenterna som för beställarna. Betongen som undersökts i utredningen är av jordfuktig karaktär och är enbart avsedd för håldäckstillverkning. Uttorkningsprocessen som studeras motsvarar uttorkningen från tillverkning fram till montage. Fyra olika betongblandningar fördelade på tolv kuber kommer att undersökas i tre olika klimat och enbart uttorkningsmässiga skillnader mellan kuberna kommer att jämföras. Undersökningen baseras på mätdata som grundar på mätningar utförda av en auktoriserad fuktkonsult via Rådet för byggkompetens, RBK. Betongrecepten i utredningen har framtagits av Cementa. Litteraturstudier används även för att styrka påståenden och underlag som framkommer i rapporten. Resultatet från studien visar att de kuber som förvarats i inomhusklimatet och i klimatrummet har en linjär uttorkningsutveckling, till skillnad från kuberna som är placerade i utomhusklimatet som har en olinjär uttorkningsutveckling. I inomhusklimatet och i klimatrummet har kuberna med högre vct torkat ut mer än betongblandningarna med lägre vct (0,40 och 0,45), däremot är skillnaden i uttorkning minimal i kuberna som har förvarats utomhus. Den fastställda slutsatsen i undersökningen är att mer djupgående och längre mätstudier behövs för att säkerställa hur betonguttorkningen förändras i ett senare skede av uttorkningsprocessen., Hollow-deck joists are an advantageous flooring alternative because of its many advantages such as reduced weight and rapid assembly. However, among other things, short construction times have meant that concrete mixes with low w/c ratio and high proportion of cement have been requested by Strängbetongs customers in order to reduce the risk of moisture problems, when a rapid drying out pursued. With an increasingly stringent and ambitious environmental goal, a need to reduce the proportion of cement has arisen. With a reduced amount of cement, the w/c ratio of the concrete increases, which leads to a more environmentally friendly production, while at the same time an economic gain is obtained. The purpose of the study is therefore to investigate whether different concrete mixes with a higher w/c ratio can replace the current concrete mix and at the same time meet existing drying requirements. This would mean benefits for both the producers and orderers. The concrete that has been investigated in the investigation is of a soil-moist nature and is only intended for hole-deck production. The drying process that is studied corresponds to the dehydration from production to assembly. Four different concrete mixes divided into twelve cubes will be investigated in three different climates and only dehydration differences between the cubes will be compared. The survey is based on measurement data that are based on measurements performed by an authorized moisture consultant at Rådet för byggkompetens, RBK. The concrete recipes in the investigation have been developed by Cementa. Literature studies are also used to substantiate claims and supporting documents that appear in the report. The results from the study show that the cubes stored in the indoor climate and in the climate room have a linear dehydration development, unlike the cubes located in the outdoor climate that has a nonlinear dehydration development. In the indoor climate and in the climate room, the cubes with higher w/c ratio have dried out more than the concrete mixtures with lower w/c ratio (0,40 and 0,45), however, the difference in dehydration is minimal in the cubes that have been stored outdoors. The established conclusion in the study is that more in-depth and longer measurement studies are needed to ensure how concrete dehydration changes at a later stage of the drying process.

Objektif : Kasus HIV yang mencapai 1%-6% dilapas disebabkan prilaku menyimpang yang terjadi di lingkungan lapas meningkatkan resiko penularan HIV bagi Warga Binaan Pemasyarakatan. Program screening ataupun VCR merupakan upaya untuk melakukan deteksi dini dan pengobatan lanjutan bagi mereka yang terdeteksi positif HIV. Metode : Penulisan ini menggunakan metode Literatur Review dari berbagai hasil penelitian terkait HIV di Lapas, didukung oleh data sekunder dan menggunakan analisa dengan pendekatan teori pembelajaran Prilaku untuk mengungkapkan mengapa deteksi HIV tidak bisa menjaring Warga Binaan Pemasyarakatan (WBP) yang berprilaku beresiko. HASIL : Belum semua Lapas di Indonesia memiliki sumberdaya kesehatan yang representative terhadap upaya pencegahan dan pengobatan penderita HIV. Kegiatan VCT yang dilakukan dilapas setiap 3 bulan sekali masih bekerjasama dengan Dinas Kesehatan setempat. Proses VCT tidak diminati oleh WBP yang memiliki prilaku beresiko karena ketakutan akan hasilnya dan Stigma yang akan mereka terima. Konsekwensi yang tidak menyenangkan ini akan mengurangi minat WBP untuk melakukan Pemeriksaan. Rendahnya akses WBP terhadap pengetahuan tentang kesehatan menyebabkan prilaku menyimpang yang beresiko seperti pembuatan tatto menggunakan alat secara bergantian tetap dilakukan WBP. Kesimpulan : Deteksi dini maupun penanganan kasus HIV bagi WBP memerlukan bukan hanya kegiatan VCT namun juga dibutuhkan perencanaan yang matang untuk menyiapkan sumber daya kesehatan di semua lapas yang ada di Indonesia. Penyiapan petugas yang terlatih khusus untuk Konseling HIV sanggat diperlukan agar proses edukasi bagi WBP dapat terus dilakukan tanpa menunggu jadwal rutin VCT Dinas Kesehatan. Bagi WBP yang Positif HIV dan telah selesai menjalani masa binaannya agar pengobatannya diserahkan ke dinas kesehatan domisili WBP

Background : The number of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases is high and is constantly increasing. Homosexual men as a transmission niche is not only significant in terms of numbers, but also in natural aspects of anal sex, tropism of HIV-1, and high-risk behavior. Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) is important for accelerating diagnosis and management plan; yet the uptake on high-risk population in Indonesia is low. A behavior-reasoning theory, Health Belief Model (HBM), attempts to explain whether or not individuals engage in certain health behavior. This study tries to assess participation rate of VCT, to portray HBM variables perception, and to depict significance of HBM variables towards VCT uptake or VCT intention. Methods : This study was conducted in October-November 2014 using cross-sectional design; 127 respondents were gathered according to Respondent Driven Snowball Sampling. This study used an internet-based questionnaire derived from Champion’s 1984 mammogram HBM questionnaire. Privacy and compensation were obtained. The Chi square test and logistic regression of HBM variables were done. Results : The VCT uptake was low (15.7%). Certain sexual experience and commitment were significant (Commitment to Men p=0.027, Oral Sex experience with men p=0.001, Anal Sex Experience with men p=0.038). Chi Square test revealed significance on Perceived Susceptibility, Perceived Benefit, and Cues to Action. Conclusions : Uptake of VCT is considerably low compared with total high risk population and other similar studies. Personal Susceptibility to HIV/AIDS is recommended to be emphasized; while VCT Benefit and Cues to Action in young homosexual men communities are better encouraged. [AMJ.2016;3(4):595–604] DOI: 10.15850/amj.v3n4.945

The research result that reviews the way to internalize character values through VCT (Value Clarification Technique) in Islamic education by conducting a case study at SMAN 6 Palembang. The procedure of developing the character internalization model through VCT is also discussed. The implementation of VCT at SMAN 6 Palembang is conducted by the teachers through some stages: First, teacher conducts the learning process in accordance with the lesson plans to make the students internalize the values and perform appropriate attitude. Second, teacher does the assessment through written test and affective evaluation. Third, teacher gives remediation for those who do not meet the minimum standard score. Thus, the implementation of VCT in the subject of Islamic education at SMAN 6 Palembang has been conducted by the teachers through various materials starting from opening the class, discussing and assessing the students by written and unwritten evaluation.

RESUMEN Fundamentos: La red COBATEST (red europea de centros comunitarios de cribado del VIH) permite la recogida estandarizada de información para monitorizar las pruebas de VIH realizadas en estos centros. El objetivo fue describir el rendimiento de los centros españoles de la red COBATEST y el perfil epidemiológico de sus usuarios, y analizar los factores asociados a tener una prueba de VIH anterior. Métodos: Análisis descriptivo de los datos recogidos en los 19 centros españoles que usaron las herramientas comunes de recogida de información durante el año 2015. Se realizó un modelo multivariado de regresión logística para identificar factores asociados a tener una prueba anterior. Resultados: Se realizaron un total de 6.077 pruebas rápidas de VIH y de éstas un 1,8% fueron reactivas [3,0% HSH (hombres que tienen sexo con hombres); 3,1% TS (trabajadores/as sexuales); 2,3% UDI (usuarios/as de drogas inyectables); 0,6% heterosexuales)]. El 82,1% de los reactivos se realizaron la prueba confirmatoria y 94 (97,9%) fueron diagnosticados de VIH siendo derivados al sistema sanitario el 54%. El 38% afirmó no haberse realizado nunca la prueba del VIH. Los factores asociados a tener una prueba del VIH anterior son: ser mayor de 20 años; ser HSH, TS, o UDI; ser extranjero; haber usado preservativo en la última penetración; haber tenido una ITS en el último año; y haber estado en prisión. Conclusión: Los resultados muestran el gran potencial de estos servicios para llegar a personas que nunca se han realizado la prueba del VIH. Los casos de VIH se concentran en colectivos vulnerables. Es necesario mejorar la vinculación de las personas diagnosticadas a los servicios sanitarios. ABSTRACT Background: The COBATEST network (European network of community-based voluntary, counselling and testing centers) allows standardized collection of information to monitor HIV testing at these centers. The objective was to describe the performance of the Spanish centers of the COBATEST network and the epidemiological profile of its users, and to analyze the factors associated with having an earlier HIV test. Methods: Descriptive analysis of the data collected in the 19 Spanish centers that used the common information collection tools during the year 2015. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with having an earlier test. Results: A total of 6,077 HIV rapid tests were performed and 1.8% were reactive (3.0% MSM, 3.1% SW, 2.3% PWID, 0.6% heterosexual). 82.1% of the reactives were referred to perform a confirmatory test and 94 (97.9%) were HIV positive, of whom 54% were diverted to the health system. 38% said they had never been tested for HIV. Factors associated with having a previous HIV test were: being over 20 years old; being HSH, SW, or PWID; being foreign; having used condoms at the last penetration; having had an STI in the last year; and having been in jail. Conclusion: The results show the great potential of these services to reach people who have never been tested for HIV. The HIV cases are concentrated in vulnerable groups. It is necessary to improve the linkage of diagnosed people to health care services.

Background: A person's HIV-positive status can only be proven by a voluntary blood test conducted by VCT (Voluntary Counseling and Testing). Communities can only know if PLWHA discloses HIV positive status to counselor with confidentiality. VCT is a major component in HIV / AIDS prevention programs, will now VCT has not been a great strategy in developing countries including Indonesia in particular. Voluntary enthusiasm factors have been the determinants of the current low VCT visits, and the diversity of results to diagnose HIV-infected HIV-AIDS is still “tabu” and disgrace of condemnation by society is also one of the supporting factors. The purpose of this study was to determine differences in the conformity of the results of the examination of counselors in VCT examination to diagnose HIV. Methods: The research design uses categorical comparative analysis with sampling technique using purposive sampling. The number of research subjects consisted of 4 counselors who were in Puskesmas Turen. The results of the study by comparing the results of interviews and observations between VCT counselors. Results: Based on the test results with Kappa test, the value of Kappa coefficient = 0.39 means that the agreement observed by the counselor between 39% between the perfect agreement. The conclusion in this research is the suitability of kappa test result among VCT counselor examination. Conclusion: The nursing implication in this research is that counselors are expected to verify data verification and validation of other counselor checkers to ensure a predetermined HIV diagnosis.

Objective: To assess reproductive health service utilization and associated factors among adolescents in Anchar District, West Hararghe Zone, Oromia Region, East Ethiopia. Materials and methods: A community based cross-sectional study using quantitative and qualitative method of data collection was applied from March 1to 30, 2013. Simple random sampling method was used for quantitative and Purposive sampling technique used for qualitative method. Four hundred two adolescents were interviewed for quantitative study. Four focus groups and ten in-depth interviews were conducted for qualitative study. Binary and Multiple logistic regressions were used for association at p < 0.05 using SPSS Version 16.0 software. Qualitative data was transcribed, and result was presented by narration. Results: Forty two (39.3%) female adolescents have ever used family planning. One hundred eight four (45.8%) adolescents have ever used VCT services. Males were 5.25 times more likely to use VCT than females (AOR = 5.25,C.I = 1.07, 25.87) and those perceived themselves as high risk for HIV were 8.22 times more likely to use VCT than their counterparts (AOR = 8.22, C.I = 1.065, 35.49). Lack of adolescent reproductive health services, Harmful Traditional Practices, lack of privacy and inconvenient service hour were reasons for not utilizing the service. Conclusion: More than half of adolescents were not utilizing family planning, and VCT services. Therefore, intensified effort is needed to increase utilization of these services for adolescents.

O estudo objetivou avaliar o trabalho nos Centros de Testagem e Aconselhamento (CTAs) do município de Porto Alegre-RS na perspectiva de seus aconselhadores. Tratou-se de pesquisa qualitativa envolvendo a realização de seis grupos focais com 13 aconselhadoras dos três CTAs do município. Os relatos foram submetidos à análise de conteúdo qualitativa, resultando na categoria temática central Conjugações entre gestão e processos de trabalho nos CTAs. Na visão das aconselhadoras, os serviços são essenciais para o diagnóstico e a prevenção em HIV/Aids e contribuem muito para a efetivação dos atendimentos nessa área. Contudo, os serviços estariam vivendo uma crise quanto ao seu papel, em função da expansão do aconselhamento e da testagem anti-HIV para a rede básica de saúde. Essas mudanças trouxeram angústias e incertezas, principalmente pela falta de diálogo com as esferas gestoras e pela ausência de diretrizes claras para o trabalho no contexto das novas políticas nacionais. Os achados também evidenciaram a preocupação com a qualidade e a forma como o aconselhamento será realizado na Atenção Básica, bem como a necessidade de mais profissionais para o atendimento em HIV/Aids e de consultas com especialidades médicas. Acredita-se que estratégias de gestão participativa poderiam contribuir no redirecionamento da atuação dos CTAs, fortalecendo o matriciamento da testagem e do aconselhamento em HIV e reforçando os CTAs na atenção de maior complexidade e como formadores de recursos humanos na área. This qualitative study aimed to assess the work in Voluntary Counseling and Testing Services (VCT) in Porto Alegre, Brazil in the perspective of their counselors. It was conducted six focus groups with 13 counselors from the three VCT services in the city. Qualitative content analysis of the reports resulted in a central theme named Joining management and work processes in the VCT services. Counselors have emphasized that services are essential for HIV/AIDS diagnosis and prevention, and contributed significantly to effective healthcare. However, VCT services were facing a crisis regarding its role in the healthcare system since counseling and HIV testing activities were being extended as a responsibility of primary health care. These changes have brought anxiety and uncertainness among counselors, especially because the poor relationships with management levels and the lack of clear guidelines in the new policy context. Findings also pointed out counselors' concerns about the quality of counseling offered in the primary health care services, the lack of professionals to HIV/AIDS healthcare and the lack of medical specialist appointments. We endorsed that participatory management strategies could help to redirect VCT services activities, strength the matrix support testing and counseling for HIV and value these services as specialized healthcare providers and human resources reference for training in the area.

The interrelationship between trees and humans is primordial. As pressures on natural resources grow and become more complex this innate connection drives an increased need for improved data and analytical techniques for assessing the status and trends of forests, trees, their products, and their services. Techniques for using readily available data such as the Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) database and output from forest disturbance detection algorithms derived from Landsat data, such as Vegetation Change Tracker (VCT), for estimating forest attributes across time from the state and inventory unit level down to the stand and pixel level are presented. Progressively more comprehensive harvest and parcel boundary records are incorporated appropriately. Quantification of attributes, including non-timber forest products and fine-scale age estimates, across the landscape both historically and into the future is emphasized. Spatial information on the distribution of forest resources by age-class provides knowledge of timber volume through time and across the landscape to support forest management for sustained production. In addition to monitoring forest resources in regards to their value as products for human consumption, their measurement facilitates analysis of the relationship of their spatial and temporal abundance to other resources such as water and wildlife. Ph. D.

Incidence of HIV / AIDS in Indonesia tend to increased, as well as in Southeast Sulawesi. HIV / AIDS has a huge impact on patients, their families, and society. Prevention of the spread of infection can be pursued through increased access to treatment and support to patients and their families. Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) clinics is a means to provide care, support and treatment for people with HIV/AIDS. Although, people living with HIV/AIDS in Southeast Sulawesi who attending to VCT clinic is still lacking, only 4% who take advantage of this facility. Several studies have shown that counseling have major effect on the health profile of patients with HIV / AIDS. Studies also mentioned that polyphenols in black tea, containing teaflavins inhibit the entry of glycoproteins by blocking HIV-1, thus reducing HIV-1. The aims of this study is to determine the effect of adherence counseling and black tea supplementation in the increasing of CD4 profile in HIV patients. This is a Longitudinal study, random sampling of HIV-AIDS patients in Bahteramas Hospital Southeast Sulawesi. All patients undergoing antiretroviral therapy standards. In the intervention group, counseling and suplementation black tea regularly in daily basis, the control group did not received suplementation of black tea. Detection of CD4 using Cyflow cytometry methods. Data analysis was performed using willcoxon test. Total 70 patients including in this study, analyze the effect of conselling and blacktea supplementation in changed in CD4 profile, Showed that in the intervention group levels of CD4 was increased by 140.07 ?? 64.22, and levels of CD4 in the control group was decreased by -14.82 ?? 39.29, mean difference of CD4 were 79.05 ?? 24.59, this is significant with p = 0.003. Results of this study suggest that adherence counseling and suplementation of black tea proven to increased levels of CD4 of HIV patients taking antiretroviral therapy.

Incidence of HIV / AIDS in Indonesia tend to increased, as well as in Southeast Sulawesi. HIV / AIDS has a huge impact on patients, their families, and society. Prevention of the spread of infection can be pursued through increased access to treatment and support to patients and their families. Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) clinics is a means to provide care, support and treatment for people with HIV/AIDS. Although, people living with HIV/AIDS in Southeast Sulawesi who attending to VCT clinic is still lacking, only 4% who take advantage of this facility. Several studies have shown that counseling have major effect on the health profile of patients with HIV / AIDS. Studies also mentioned that polyphenols in black tea, containing teaflavins inhibit the entry of glycoproteins by blocking HIV-1, thus reducing HIV-1. The aims of this study is to determine the effect of adherence counseling and black tea supplementation in the increasing of CD4 profile in HIV patients. This is a Longitudinal study, random sampling of HIV-AIDS patients in Bahteramas Hospital Southeast Sulawesi. All patients undergoing antiretroviral therapy standards. In the intervention group, counseling and suplementation black tea regularly in daily basis, the control group did not received suplementation of black tea. Detection of CD4 using Cyflow cytometry methods. Data analysis was performed using willcoxon test. Total 70 patients including in this study, analyze the effect of conselling and blacktea supplementation in changed in CD4 profile, Showed that in the intervention group levels of CD4 was increased by 140.07 ?? 64.22, and levels of CD4 in the control group was decreased by -14.82 ?? 39.29, mean difference of CD4 were 79.05 ?? 24.59, this is significant with p = 0.003. Results of this study suggest that adherence counseling and suplementation of black tea proven to increased levels of CD4 of HIV patients taking antiretroviral therapy.

A development project was undertaken within the consortia formed by Polygon and AK-konsult. The aim of this project was to map out the impact of humidity leakages on the result of humidity measurements in concrete slabs according to the so-called RBK-method. It is behind the idea of this development project that the main purpose of this thesis can be derived from. For instance, an evaluation of already existing data material from a RBK-measurement has been done. A method has been retrieved in order to compare the trend of the measured values of the relative humidity with the trend of the expected values of the relative humidity during the drying process. The main goal has been to implement this method as an instrument to analyze the actual drying process. A survey study was undertaken among the employees of the consortia in order to point out the differences that arise during the installation of the measurement equipment prior to measurement according to the RBK-method. The result of the survey has been summarized and analyzed in purpose to catch a wider glimpse over the different kinds of variables that might have an impact on the result from a RBK-measurement. The outcome from the study of the existing measurement data shows that some of the measurement spots tends to dry out faster than the calculated drying process, while other spots indicates a slower drying process. Three of them actually pointed out that they were under humidity, which implies that they still hadn’t reached the stadium of moisture equilibrium with the concrete. The main reason behind the observed discrepancies might have its explanation in the fact that measurement wholes that have been subjected to a big humidity leakage. The consequence of measurement spots subjected to big humidity leakages, is that the measured value of the relative humidity turns out to be much lower than the actual level of the relative humidity in the concrete. An observation has been made in the plausibility analysis and in the Vaisalaproject that the normative equilibrium time exceeds the number of three days that’s been ordained by RBK. A further study of the normative equilibrium time can thereby be recommended to clarify if it still can be compatible with the different kinds of concrete classes of today.

Background: The COBATEST network (European network of community- based voluntary, counselling and testing centers) allows standardized collection of information to monitor HIV testing at these centers. The objective was to describe the performance of the Spanish centers of the COBATEST network and the epidemiological profile of its users, and to analyze the factors associated with having an earlier HIV test. Methods: Descriptive analysis of the data collected in the 19 Spanish centers that used the common information collection tools during the year 2015. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with having an earlier test. Results: A total of 6,077 HIV rapid tests were performed and 1.8% were reactive (3.0% MSM, 3.1% SW, 2.3% PWID, 0.6% heterosexual). 82.1% of the reactives were referred to perform a confirmatory test and 94 (97.9%) were HIV positive, of whom 54% were diverted to the health system. 38% said they had never been tested for HIV. Factors associated with having a previous HIV test were: being over 20 years old; being HSH, SW, or PWID; being foreign; having used condoms at the last penetration; having had an STI in the last year; and having been in jail. Conclusion: The results show the great potential of these services to reach people who have never been tested for HIV. The HIV cases are concentrated in vulnerable groups. It is necessary to improve the linkage of diagnosed people to health care services.

Determinants of non-adherence to antiretroviral therapy in adults with HIV/AIDSPurposeThis study aimed to determine the factors of non-adherence ARV therapy in adult PLWHA.MethodsA case-control study was conducted using secondary data of the Cilacap VCT clinic with consecutive sampling technique. The total sample was 204, consisting of 102 cases and 102 controls (1:1). The cases were adult PLWHA who did not adhere to ARV therapy and the controls were adult PLWHA who adhere to ARV therapy. The bivariate analysis used Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests and multivariate analysis used logistic regression tests. ResultsThe variables that were shown to jointly affect non-adherence to ARV therapy in adult PLWHA were the level of education, CD4 count, PMO and opportunistic infections.ConclusionsThe risk factors of non-adherence to ARV therapy in adult PLWHA were the level of education, PMO, CD4 count and opportunistic infections. There needs to be a special assistance and counseling program on a regular basis to PLWHA adults with low education, obligating all PLWHA adults that start ARV therapy to have a PMO, continue HIV screening programs to entire population at risk and advocate the local governments to facilitate PLWHA who can not afford to obtain CD4 test ., Tujuan: Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui faktor-faktor yang berhubungan dengan ketidakpatuhan terapi ARV pada ODHA dewasa.Metode: Penelitian case-control ini menggunakan data sekunder klinik VCT Kabupaten Cilacap menggunakan teknik consecutive sampling. Total sampel penelitian adalah 204, terdiri dari 102 kasus dan 102 kontrol (1:1). Kasus adalah ODHA dewasa yang tidak patuh menjalani terapi ARV dan kontrol adalah ODHA dewasa yang patuh menjalani terapi ARV. Analisis bivariat menggunakan uji Chi-square dan Fisher’s Exact serta analisis multivariat dengan menggunakan uji regresi logistik.Hasil: Variabel yang terbukti secara bersama-sama mempengaruhi ketidakpatuhan terapi ARV pada ODHA dewasa yaitu tingkat pendidikan (OR= 5,67; 95%CI=2,89-11,12; p=0,00), jumlah CD4 (OR=5,58; 95%CI=1,54-20,2; p=0,01), PMO (OR=4,25; 95%CI=1,22-14,8; p=0,02) dan infeksi oportunistik (OR=4,22; 95%CI=2,16-8,26; p=0,00).Implikasi praktis: Klinik VCT Kabupaten Cilacap perlu melakukan pendampingan khusus dan konseling secara rutin kepada ODHA dewasa yang berpendidikan rendah, mewajibkan semua ODHA dewasa yang akan mulai terapi ARV memiliki PMO, Dinas Kesehatan Kabupaten Cilacap perlu melanjutkan program skrining HIV dengan menjangkau seluruh populasi yang berisiko dan melakukan advokasi dengan pemerintah daerah dalam pemberian jaminan kesehatan berupa pemeriksaan CD4 gratis bagi ODHA yang tidak mampu.Keaslian: Faktor-faktor yang berisiko terhadap ketidakpatuhan terapi ARV pada ODHA dewasa adalah tingkat pendidikan, PMO, jumlah CD4 dan infeksi oportunistik

This study identified physicians' HIV testing practices and their barriers toward implementing provider-initiated HIV testing and counseling (PITC) for Sub-Saharan African migrants (SAM) in Flanders, Belgium. In-depth interviews were conducted on a purposive sample of 20 physicians (ten GPs and ten internists). GPs performed mainly patient-initiated tests, while internists carried out tests based on disease indicators and risk behavior. For the most part, World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines were not followed. Study participants were not in favor of implementing PITC. Reasons included lack of information on the HIV epidemic among SAM, fear of stigmatizing patients, perceiving testing as unethical for undocumented patients, questionable relevance of pre-test counseling, lack of expertise in discussing sexuality, language barriers, lack of time, and the absence of a national or regional HIV testing policy. Implementing PITC will require appropriate training of service providers. Also, supporting policies should be developed with the participation of stakeholders encouraging "normalization" of HIV testing.

This study explored perceptions, needs, and barriers of sub-Saharan African migrants in relation to HIV voluntary counseling and testing (VCT). Using an inductive qualitative methodological approach, data were obtained from focus group discussions. Results showed that participants were in principle in favor of VCT. However, they indicated that barriers outweighed advantages. Such barriers included fear of positive test results and its related personal and social consequences, lack of information, lack of preventive health behavior, denial of HIV risk, and missed opportunities. Limited financial resources were only a concern for some subgroups like young people, asylum seekers, and recent migrants. This study identified multiple and intertwined barriers to VCT from a community perspective. In order to promote VCT, interventions such as raising awareness through culturally sensitive education should be adopted at community level. At level of service provision, provider initiated HIV testing including target group tailored counseling should be promoted.

The efficacy of Safety Counts, a CDC-diffused intervention, was reanalyzed. In a quasi experimental, cross-over design, injection drug users (IDU) and crack users in two neighborhoods were assigned by neighborhood to receive individual Voluntary HIV Counseling and Testing or Safety Counts and 78% were reassessed at 5–9 months. Drug users in the Safety Counts program reported significantly greater reductions in risky sex, crack and hard drug use, and risky drug injection. The more sessions of Safety Counts attended, the greater were the reductions in risky acts. Different analytic decisions result in very different findings for the same intervention. Safety Counts is an effective intervention for IDU and crack users. Analytic decision of intervention outcomes is highly related to evaluations of an intervention’s efficacy. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s10461-009-9606-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

This is an electronic version of an article published in AIDS Care. 2008 Aug;20(7):771-81. AIDS Care is available online at informaworldTM, The objective of this cross-sectional household survey was to assess factors influencing HIV risk perception, behaviour and intervention uptake in a community characterised by high HIV prevalence and availability of antiretroviral therapy (ART). The survey was conducted in Khayelitsha, South Africa and involved two-stage sampling with self-weighting clusters and random selection of households within clusters. One man and woman between 14 and 49 years old was interviewed in each household; 696 men and 879 women were interviewed for a response rate of 84% and 92% respectively. Ninety-three percent and 94% were sexually active with median age of sexual debut 15.3 and 16.5 years. Eighty-three percent and 82% reported a partner at the time of interview and 29% and 8% had additional partner(s). Forty-one percent and 33% reported condom use during the last sexual encounter. Thirty-seven percent of men not using condoms did not as they believed their partner to be faithful, whilst 27% of women did not as their partner refused. Twenty-eight percent and 53% had been tested for HIV. Having undergone HIV testing was not associated with condom usage, whilst current relationship status was the strongest association with condom usage for both men and women. In spite of a relatively high uptake of condoms and testing as well as ART availability, the HIV epidemic has continued unabated in Khayelitsha. Even greater coverage of preventive interventions is required, together with a national social and political environment that builds on the availability of both preventive and treatment services.

Examensarbetet redovisar försök utförda på betonggolv i syfte att studera betongens uttorkningsprocess. Testresultaten jämförs med beräkningar utförda i BI Dry och TorkaS. Betongen i testerna utsattes för fuktbelastning av olika grader och skeden. Detta skulle modellera att betong på byggen exponeras för väder och vind. Examensarbetet innehåller både litteraturstudier gällande betongensuttorkningsprocessen och tester. TorkaS 3.2, BI Dry 2.0 samt HumiGuards webbaserade beräkningsprogram användes för att beräkna uttorkningsprocessen och göra en analys av uppmätt data. The thesis reports experiments performed on the dehydration process of moisture in concrete floor specimens. The aim is to study the RF-values in concrete exposed to humidity and for comparing actual measurements with calculation results from software. Investigation is made on the drying concrete affected by moisture at different levels and stages modelling for cases where concrete is usually exposed to weather conditions for fairly long periods before a controlled drying environment is achieved. The thesis was performed by using literature studies and tests. For each concrete slab specimen moisture controls were mounted sampling data which was implemented into the calculation program. TorkaS 3.2, BI Dry 2.0 and HumiGuard webbased calculation software was used for modelling the drying process and it is reported with graphs in the work.

Background Voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) is one of the nine strategies recommended for prevention and control of HIV globally. In this study, we assessed the awareness and utilisation of VCT services among residents of the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality (LMKM) in the Eastern Region of Ghana. Methods A population-based descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted with 200 participants, aged between 18 and 55 years. Participants were recruited using cluster and simple random techniques to take part in the survey. Data was analysed descriptively, as well as using regression analysis approach. Results Ninety-one percent of the respondents surveyed were aware of VCT services for HIV/AIDS. Seventy percent (70 %) have used VCT service in the last 12 months prior to the survey. Of this proportion, 97 % were satisfied with the quality of VCT services offered and indicated their willingness to recommend the service to others. Participants desire to know their HIV status (40 %), referral by health workers (25 %), and participants who wanted to get married (11 %) were the main reasons for increased uptake. Participants who had formal education, primary (OR = 1.8 (95 % CI 1.25–2.84)), junior high school (OR = 2.3 (95 % CI 1.54–3.37)), senior high school (OR = 2.8 (95 % CI 1.73–4.78)), and tertiary (OR = 3.4 (95 % CI 1.98–8.42)), had increased chance of using VCT service compared with participants who had no education (p

Background: In an era of treatment as prevention, voluntary HIV counseling and testing (VCT) is a crucial point to link individuals with HIV infection with treatment, care and support. VCT also promotes safer behavior (e.g. use of condoms) among both HIV- positive and HIV-negative individuals. In Nepal, the epidemic is concentrated among the most vulnerable populations, such as men who have sex with men (MSM). The 2012 bio- behavioral survey findings suggest that the uptake of VCT is 44.8% among MSM despite rapid expansion of interventions in Nepal. This study looks at the determinants of VCT uptake among MSM using Anderson's model of the utilization of health care. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out between September and November 2010 through snowball sampling to recruit 339 MSM, aged 15 or older, from 15 districts of Nepal. The dependent variable was if they had ever used VCT services. The independent factors included were categorized as predisposing, enabling, need and health system factors, in accordance with Anderson's model of health care utilization. Associations between the independent and the dependent variables were examined using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis in SPSS. The analyses were adjusted for clustering. Results: Among the 339 MSM interviewed, 87% reported they had at some time used VCT services. The predisposing factors associated with being less likely to have used VCT services were being unemployed (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 0.27, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.10-0.72), and belonging to the middle caste (AOR 0.20, 95% CI 0.10-0.57). Lack of the enabling factor - family acceptance of same sex behavior' - was inversely associated with ever having used VCT (AOR 0.34, 95% CI 0.16- 0.73). The need factor - use of illicit drugs' (AOR 0.18, 95% CI 0.07-0.48) - was also inversely associated with having used VCT services, whereas condom rupture during last anal sex was positively associated with having made a visit for VCT (AOR 3.19, 95% CI 1.19- 8.51). Unavailability of VCT services in the district was a barrier to having used VCT (AOR 0.44, 95% CI 0.29-0.66). Conclusions: The study findings suggest that VCT is used by the MSM who are at high risk of HIV through condom rupture, but inequitable geographical distribution of VCT services (most concentrated in urban areas) obstructs the uptake of VCT among MSM in Nepal. Efforts to increase VCT use among MSM need to be targeted at those MSM who are middle caste and/or unemployed. A more holistic approach, including efforts to address lack of family acceptance and illicit drug-use, is required to increase using VCT among MSM in Nepal. Master i Master of philosophy in international health MAMD-INTH INTH395

Individual interviews with 25 nurses and midwives revealed their experiences with providing maternity care in rural Zimbabwe. These first-hand accounts especially illuminate the complexities of providing maternity care in the context of HIV/AIDS. The caregivers described feeling troubled by knowing statistics about the magnitude and high prevalence of HIV (from official sources and the media) while they witnessed the increase in disease and the deaths of women, children and colleagues around them. They expressed frustration with a lack of information regarding the HIV status of their female patients — a situation exacerbated by HIV stigma and poor healthcare organisation. The social relationships between the caregivers and women in the study area sometimes meant that the caregivers did not effectively apply universal precautions, such as use of gloves during births. The situation described by the caregivers emphasises that contextual factors must be addressed to meet the increased demands and challenges of providing maternal healthcare in endemic HIV/AIDS countries such as Zimbabwe. Keywords: Africa, perinatal care, nurses and midwives, occupational risks, stigma, universal precautions, VCT, vertical transissionAfrican Journal of AIDS Research 2006, 5(2): 133–139

Recognising the widespread role of traditional birth attendants (TBAs) and herbal practitioners (HPs) in health care at community level in Nigeria, we set out to assess their knowledge, attitudes and practices in relation to HIV infection and prevention. Questionnaires were administered to a convenience sample of 189 participants in 20 local government areas of Lagos State. We found that knowledge of modes of transmission of HIV was less than adequate and included lack of knowledge of the existence of HIV/AIDS amongst some practitioners, claims for the ability to treat HIV/AIDS, failure to name major avenues of transmission and confusion of HIV/AIDS with other conditions. The use of measures to prevent infection of clients and themselves showed that normal standards of infection control are not adhered to. Considering that as many as 60% of children born in Nigeria are delivered by traditional birth attendants and that use of the services of herbal practitioners extends across the entire society in both rural and urban settings, this is seen as reason for concern. It is suggested that better incorporation of TBAs/HPs into the well-developed primary health care system offers not only a way of overcoming the risks of infection posed by traditional health practices but also offers an opportunity to extend the reach of voluntary counselling and testing and prevention of mother-to-child infection programmes. The research has shown the need for appropriate training of TBAs, to enable them to recognise the risk of HIV infection in their own practices and to encourage them to adopt universal precautions against spreading infection. We also recommend that they be more extensively integrated as primary health care workers in VCT and PMTCT programmes in Nigeria. We further suggest that referrals made between the traditional practitioners and professional health care providers can be an effective and successful element of HIV/AIDS prevention and control programmes. African Journal of AIDS Research 2004, 3(2): 191–196

Prevalence data indicates that certain sectors within the private sector are particularly affected by HIV/AIDS. Companies in southern Africa began implementing treatment programmes in early 2002 as the corporate sector came to realise the financial imperative of offsetting employee morbidity and mortality. This article sets about to explain the rationale behind antiretroviral treatment (ART) programmes within the private sector while uncovering some of the obstacles businesses face when treating HIV-infected employees. Data suggest that in many cases employees' uptake of voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) and ART are slow. At this early stage of workplace treatment provision, data indicate that employers must seek ways to increase uptake of VCT and treatment in an attempt to make programmes more cost-effective. Keywords: Africa, ARVs, cost-effectiveness, HIV/AIDS, private sector, programme planning and management, VCTAfrican Journal of AIDS Research 2006, 5(2): 179–188

In order for HIV voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) to be successful, the approval of and attendance at the VCT centre by the community it serves is necessary. To this end, the Township AIDS Project (TAP), which has VCT sites serving the greater Soweto area, attempts to maintain a high degree of visibility in the community through campaigning and various forms of advertising. To determine whether the social marketing strategies employed by the organisation encouraged attendance, pre-test questionnaires completed by volunteers attending the TAP VCT site located in the Meadowlands district of Soweto were retrospectively analysed. During 2003, approximately 34% of volunteers were made aware of the VCT site through marketing. However, a more important factor in volunteer awareness was word of mouth, with about 46% of volunteers informed of TAP VCT by a friend, partner or relative. This attests to the success of the marketing strategies employed by the TAP organisation in raising community awareness and attendance at the VCT site investigated in this study. In total, 1 141 volunteers completed a questionnaire and 1 054 of these consented to being tested for HIV antibodies. The level of infection among the sample of individuals tested at this clinic-based VCT programme was 29.9%. Keywords: advertising; HIV/AIDS; prevalence; VCTAfrican Journal of AIDS Research 2005, 4(1): 51–56

ケニアでは暴力被害を受けた女性がHIV感染およびエイズ孤児の増加と同様に増えており、アウトカムが非常に乏しい状況である。暴力に対する対策の遅れの背景に、社会システムの悪化があげられる。HIV/AIDSに関しては、ケニア国の指針を定め管理し、様々な対策が練られている。具体的な保健政策は、(1)HIV感染予防、(2)包括的VCTサービスの強化、(3)エイズ患者治療体制整備と支援の推進、(4)保健医療システムの強化によるHIV/エイズ対応能力の向上、(5)HIV感染者・エイズ患者、家族、エイズ孤児とHIV/エイズに影響を受けている子どもへのケア、社会的サポートなどの支援などが展開されている。これらのドメスティックバイオレンスや性感染症の増加に対する、予防とケア提供システムおよび実現可能な連携システムの確立が必要である。そして、DV被害者や性暴力被害者に対して支援が効果的に提供されるためには、早期発見体制や発生監視等のサーベィランス体制を整備し、被害者のアドポカシーを促進することが重要であると示唆された。Violence to women causes destructive outcomes, such as an icrease in HIV infected women and orphans due to the death of HIV infected parents. The violence is one of the main causes of the deterioration of the social service system. There are various programs fighting against HIV/AIDS, planned and conducted in line with the national health policy of Kenya. These are the prevention of HIV infection, increasing the capacity of Integrated Voluntary counseling and Testing (VCT) services, increasing treatment services particularly with Anti Retrovirus Treatment (ART), improvement of health systems to cope with emerging issues related to HIV/AIDS in the society, arrangement of social support specifically for social groups affected with HIV/AIDS issues including HIV carriers, AIDS patients, orphans and other vulnerable children (OVC). The emphasis is on establishment of workable linkage between the prevention of domestic violence and the care provision systems to victims including sexual transmitted infections (STIs) issues. Advocacy is necessary based upon the above viewpoints in strengthening the surveillance system on DV and sexual violence., 国立情報学研究所の「学術雑誌公開支援事業」により電子化されました。