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© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2018. Objectives Haemorrhage, hypertension, sepsis and abortion complications (often from haemorrhage or sepsis) contribute to 60% of all maternal deaths. Each is associated with vital signs (blood pressure (BP) and pulse) abnormalities, and the majority of deaths are preventable through simple and timely intervention. This paper presents the development and evaluation of the CRADLE Vital Signs Alert (VSA), an accurate, low-cost and easy-To-use device measuring BP and pulse with an integrated traffic light early warning system. The VSA was designed to be used by all cadres of healthcare providers for pregnant women in low-resource settings with the aim to prevent avoidable maternal mortality and morbidity. Methods The development and the mixed-methods clinical evaluation of the VSA are described. Results Preliminary fieldwork identified that introduction of BP devices to rural clinics improved antenatal surveillance of BP in pregnant women. The aesthetics of the integrated traffic light system were developed through iterative qualitative evaluation. The traffic lights trigger according to evidence-based vital sign thresholds in hypertension and haemodynamic compromise from haemorrhage and sepsis. The VSA can be reliably used as an auscultatory device, as well as its primary semiautomated function, and is suitable as a self-monitor used by pregnant women. Conclusion The VSA is an accurate device incorporating an evidence-based traffic light early warning system. It is designed to ensure suitability for healthcare providers with limited training and may improve care for women in pregnancy, childbirth and in the postnatal period.

Objectives. To evaluate a South African workplace HIV I AIDS peer-education programme running since 1997.Methods. In 2001 a cross-sectional study was done of 900 retail-section employees in three geographical areas. The study measured HIV I AIDS knowledge, attitudes towards people living with HIV I AIDS, belief about self-risk of infection, and condom use as a practice indicator. The impact of an HIV I AIDS peer-education programme on these outcomes was examined.Results. Training by peer educators had no significant impact on any outcome. Fifty-nine per cent of subjects had a good knowledge score, 62% had a positive attitude towards people with HIV I AIDS, 34% used condoms frequently, and the majority of participants (73%) believed they were at low risk of infection. Logistical regression showed that a very small proportion of the variance in the four outcomes was explained by potential determinants of interest (8% for knowledge, 6% for attitude, 7% for risk and 17% for condom use).Conclusions. The HIV peer-education programme was found to be ineffective and may have involved an opportunity cost. The programme contrasts with more costly comprehensive care that includes antiretrovirals. The private sector appears to have been as tardy as the public sector in addressing theepidemic effectively.

Bibliography: p. 113-118., The private sector in South Africa has a keen interest in ensuring that all employees are fully educated on issues related to HIV/AIDS (especially transmission mechanisms) to avoid losing a large proportion of the workforce and incurring a subsequent drop in productivity. In 1977, Woolworths, a South African retail company, implemented an HIV peer education programme for its employees. The broad aim of the programme is to reduce the HIV infection rate among staff by providing educational material on safe sexual practices, discussing various issues connected to HIV such as sexuality and modes of transmission and by providing free condoms to staff. The objective of this study is to provide a thorough and realistic evaluation of the Woolworths HIV/AIDS peer education programme. A formal evaluation is required to understand the current position of the programme and to determine its future direction.