Browsing by Author "Mahlase, Gethwana."

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HIV infection in high school students in rural South Africa: role of transmissions among students.
(Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., 2014) Kharsany, Ayesha Bibi Mahomed.; Buthelezi, Thulasizwe John.; Fröhlich, Janet Ann.; Yende-Zuma, Fortunate Nonhlanhla.; Samsunder, Natasha.; Mahlase, Gethwana.; Williamson, Carolyn.; Travers, Simon A.; Marais, Jinny C.; Dellar, Rachael Claire.; Abdool Karim, Salim Safurdeen.; Abdool Karim, Quarraisha.
Abstract available in pdf.
HIV transmission risk behavior among HIV-positive patients receiving antiretroviral therapy in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
(Springer Science., 2014) Shuper, Paul A.; Kiene, Susan M.; Mahlase, Gethwana.; MacDonald, Susan.; Christie, Sarah.; Cornman, Deborah H.; Fisher, William A.; Greener, Ross.; Lalloo, Umesh Gangaram.; Pillay, Sandy.; van Loggerenberg, Francois.; Fisher, Jeffrey D.
The aim of this investigation was to identify factors associated with HIV transmission risk behavior among HIV-positive women and men receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Across 16 clinics, 1,890 HIV? patients on ART completed a risk-focused audio computer-assisted self-interview upon enrolling in a prevention-with-positives intervention trial. Results demonstrated that 62% of HIV-positive patients’ recent unprotected sexual acts involved HIV-negative or HIV status unknown partners. For HIV-positive women, multivariable correlates of unprotected sex with HIV-negative or HIV status unknown partners were indicative of poor HIV prevention-related information and of sexual partnership-associated behavioral skills barriers. For HIV positive men, multivariable correlates represented motivational barriers, characterized by negative condom attitudes and the experience of depressive symptomatology, as well as possible underlying information deficits. Findings suggest that interventions addressing gender-specific and culturally-relevant information, motivation, and behavioral skills barriers could help reduce HIV transmission risk behavior among HIV-positive South Africans.
Implementation of adolescent-friendly voluntary medical male circumcision using a school based recruitment program in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
(Public Library of Science., 2014) Montague, Carl.; Ngcobo, Nelisiwe.; Mahlase, Gethwana.; Fröhlich, Janet Ann.; Pillay, Cheryl.; Yende-Zuma, Fortunate Nonhlanhla.; Humphries, Hilton Richard.; Dellar, Rachael Claire.; Naidoo, Kogieleum.; Abdool Karim, Quarraisha.
Background: Epidemiological data from South Africa demonstrate that risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in males increases dramatically after adolescence. Targeting adolescent HIV-negative males may be an efficient and cost-effective means of maximising the established HIV prevention benefits of voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) in high HIV prevalence-, low circumcision practice-settings. This study assessed the feasibility of recruiting male high school students for VMMC in such a setting in rural KwaZulu-Natal. Methods and Findings: Following community and key stakeholder consultations on the acceptability of VMMC recruitment through schools, information and awareness raising sessions were held in 42 high schools in Vulindlela. A three-phase VMMC demand-creation strategy was implemented in partnership with a local non-governmental organization, ZimnadiZonke, that involved: (i) community consultation and engagement; (ii) in-school VMMC awareness sessions and centralized HIV counselling and testing (HCT) service access; and (iii) peer recruitment and decentralized HCT service access. Transport was provided for volunteers to the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA) clinic where the forceps-guided VMMC procedure was performed on consenting HIV-negative males. HIV infected volunteers were referred to further care either at the CAPRISA clinic or at public sector clinics. Between March 2011 and February 2013, a total of 5165 circumcisions were performed, the majority (71%) in males aged between 15 and 19 years. Demand-creation strategies were associated with an over five-fold increase in VMMC uptake from an average of 58 procedures/month in initial community engagement phases, to an average of 308 procedures/month on initiation of the peer recruitment-decentralized service phase. Post-operative adverse events were rare (1.2%), mostly minor and self-resolving. Conclusions: Optimizing a high volume, adolescent-targeted VMMC program was feasible, acceptable and safe in this setting. Adaptive demand-creation strategies are required to sustain high uptake.
Meeting the sexual and reproductive health needs of high-school students in South Africa: experiences from rural KwaZulu-Natal.
(South African Medical Association., 2014) Fröhlich, Janet Ann.; Mkhize, Nolunthando.; Dellar, Rachael Claire.; Mahlase, Gethwana.; Montague, Carl.; Abdool Karim, Quarraisha.
Abstract available in pdf.
Trends in HIV prevalence in pregnant women in rural South Africa.
(Wolters Kluwer., 2015) Kharsany, Ayesha Bibi Mahomed.; Fröhlich, Janet Ann.; Yende-Zuma, Fortunate Nonhlanhla.; Mahlase, Gethwana.; Samsunder, Natasha.; Dellar, Rachael Claire.; Zuma-Mkhonza, May.; Abdool Karim, Salim Safurdeen.; Abdool Karim, Quarraisha.
Abstract available in pdf.