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To investigate (i) Ramadan participation, (ii) provision of Ramadan related advice by healthcare providers (iii) medication use during Ramadan fasting among Turkish migrants with diabetes in Belgium.This pilot observational study was conducted among a convenience sample of 52 Turkish migrants with diabetes in Belgium. Two questionnaires collected information on socio-demographic characteristics, diabetes related characteristics, current hypoglycaemic medication with dosing regimen, participation in the past Ramadan, reasons for (non)participation, use of hypoglycaemic medication during the past Ramadan, advice from their healthcare providers about fasting during Ramadan and follow up of this advice.Sixteen patients (31%) had fasted during the past Ramadan. Main reason for Ramadan participation was reinforcement of faith (12/15), while the main reason for non participation was having diabetes (34/36). About 56% of the study population had received recommendations from their healthcare provider(s) about fasting and diabetes during Ramadan. The most commonly provided advice was not to participate in Ramadan, followed by modification of drug therapy. Only 3 patients ignored the advice of their healthcare professionals. In addition, only 60% of those who actually fasted received recommendations about intake of diabetes medication during the ramadan. Most fasters continued their medication dose unchanged (87% of OHA users and 80% of the insulin users).This pilot study found a low prevalence of Ramadan fasting among Turkish migrants with diabetes in Belgium. We also found that provision of advice by healthcare providers could be improved. Larger scale studies are warranted to confirm these findings.

Background: High risk settings for transmission of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STI) offer an opportunity for screening of difficult to reach risk groups. Methods: Free, anonymous counselling and testing for HIV, syphilis, Chlamydia and hepatitis B/C were offered to visitors in two selected gay venues in Antwerp, by a multidisciplinary team. Participants completed an anonymous questionnaire. The STI-test results were communicated by cell phone using standardised text messages. Results: In total, 137 MSM were tested. Facilitators of risky sexual behaviour (alcohol and drug use) were reported by 34 and 21%, respectively. Four men (3%) were newly diagnosed with HIV; 25 men (18%) had an active, transmittable STI. Infected MSM were significantly less often registered with a fixed general practitioner (GP). Conclusions: Outreach testing in gay venues is a suitable method to detect MSM at risk for HIV/STI. Although the outreach approach is very labour intensive, it shows a high yield of new STI-diagnoses that are not detected in the regular health system.

ispartof: pages:62-62 ispartof: Verslagboek van een tweedaags vormingsprogramma, georganiseerd door de Federatie van Consultatiebureaus voor Levens- en Gezinsvragen pages:62-62 ispartof: Aids, voorlichting en preventie location:Kasteel van Ham, Steenokkerzeel date:13 Sep - 27 Sep 1988 status: published