Condom use in African adolescents: The role of individual and group factors

This study set out to assess the ability of the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) to predict and explain condom use in a traditional African context and in particular to assess the relative contributions of individual and normative constructs. A questionnaire survey was administered to 152 young adults (48% male, 52% female) at two points in time. Key constructs contained within the TPB were measured at Time 1. A short follow-up set of items was administered one week later at Time 2, thereby allowing for the measurement of actual behaviour. The results not only provide strong support for the predictive power of the TPB, since 67% of the variance in intention was explained, but also highlight the extent to which sexual behaviour in a rural location is governed by family/social influences. Subjective norm not only proved to be one of the most significant elements of the TPB model, together with self-efficacy (neither attitude nor perceived control were significantly involved), but 'my family' emerged as the most significant other. As such, the findings offer empirical evidence to support interventions that penetrate community networks.

Faecal calprotectin in the assessment of Crohn's disease activity

BACKGROUND

Clinical and laboratory assessment of activity in Crohn's disease (CD) correlate poorly with endoscopic findings. Calprotectin is a calcium-binding protein abundant in neutrophil cytosol, and extremely stable in faeces. Faecal calprotectin (FC) is an excellent surrogate marker of neutrophil influx into the bowel lumen.

AIM

To assess whether FC concentration from a spot stool sample reliably detects active inflammation in patients with CD.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional comparative study.

METHODS

Subjects had a previously confirmed diagnosis of CD and were suspected on clinical grounds to be in the midst of a relapse. Thirty-five entered the study; they underwent radiolabelled white cell scanning (WCS) and had a stool sample collected for calprotectin measurement on the same day. A Crohn's disease activity index (CDAI) was also calculated for each. The WCS scans were scored at six standard sites to give a mean total, 'extent', 'severity' and 'combined extent and severity' scores.

RESULTS

FC was significantly and positively correlated with mean total (r = 0.73, p < 0.001), 'extent' (r = 0.71, p < 0.001), 'severity' (r = 0.64, p < 0.001) and combined 'extent and severity' WCS scores (r = 0.71, p < 0.001). A cut-off of faecal calprotectin > 100 microg/g gave a sensitivity of 80%, specificity of 67%, positive predictive value of 87% and a negative predictive value of 64% in identifying those with and without any inflammation on WCS. There was, however, no significant correlation between CDAI and mean total WCS score (r = 0.21, p = 0.24), nor between CDAI and FC (r = 0.33, p = 0.06).

DISCUSSION

While the CDAI does not accurately reflect inflammatory activity in CD, a one-off FC reliably detects the presence or absence of intestinal inflammation in adult patients with CD, compared to WCS.

Pepper mottle virus Causing Disease in Chile Peppers in Southern New Mexico

The primary pepper producing areas of southern New Mexico were surveyed to identify the viruses causing severe disease in chile peppers over a 2-year period. The survey included weeds commonly found in and around pepper fields. Using indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Pepper mottle virus (PepMoV) was associated with plants showing mosaic and distortion of foliage and fruit deformation. PepMoV and Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) were determined based on ELISA to be infecting chile peppers and weeds singly or in combination. Four perennial plant species were infected with PepMoV and CMV, including Solanum elaeagnifolium (silverleaf nightshade), Convolvulus arvensis (field bindweed), and Chamysuraces sp. (small groundcherry), which had not previously been identified as hosts for PepMoV. Some peppers and weeds surveyed were also infected at a lower level by several other plant viruses.

Predicting early grade retention: a longitudinal investigation of primary school progress in a sample of rural South African children

BACKGROUND

One hundred and fifty rural South African children, newly enrolled in Grade 2 in 1994, were retraced in 1998 when they were scheduled to have entered Grade 7. Only 39% of the cohort had progressed smoothly to Grade 7; more than a third (36%) had left their original primary school, and 25% had been retained at least once.

AIMS

The present study investigated factors that were measurable at the start of Grade 2 which proved useful in predicting subsequent retention.

METHOD

Details of children's academic progress from Grade 1 in 1993 through all subsequent years including 1998 were collected. Predictor variables included age at school entry, sex of child, nutritional status, academic achievement in Grade 1, cognitive test status at Grade 2, teacher assessments of children's behaviour, and biographical variables such as caregiver education and household size.

RESULTS

Rural children's experience of primary school was relatively disrupted. For those who remained in the same school, a relatively good predictive model for retention was built, with Grade 1 academic achievement as well as caregiver education, and cognitive test scores being important predictors.

CONCLUSIONS

Results corroborate those of developed world studies, in showing that early academic achievement is a strong predictor of retention. In addition, they highlight the importance of early curriculum mastery--rather than broader cognitive skills--for smooth progression through school.

Use of educational resource materials with South African children in day care

The psychometric scores of black South African children (N = 248) in 16 day-care centers were assessed before (n = 119) and after (n = 129) the introduction of an enrichment package, which consisted of a range of educational toys and cost US $12 per child. Analysis indicated that the enrichment was associated with significant improvements on a number of psychometric measures. Results are critically examined in terms of methodological issues, the effects of a low-cost enrichment scheme, and aspects of the package which merited subsequent improvement.