Public current awareness

Newsflashes

• Government changes tack on HIV prevention, treatment for drug users
  (6 September 2010)
  The government of Kenya has ignored intravenous drug users in the past with regard to antiretroviral treatment, since using drug is illegal in Kenya. Now, however, is has changed. The Kenyan government acknowledges the fact that this high risk group should receive the life giving treatment. Read more.

• Increased mortality risk for treatment-naive patients with CD4 count below 500
  (30 August 2010)
  In spite of the many differences of opinion when to start with antiretroviral therapy new evidence suggests that starting with treatment should be sooner (CD4 cell count of below 500mm3) rather than the widely accepted guideline of below 350. Read more.

• HIV transmission and the criminal law
  (23 August 2010)
  In the past year the transgressions of HIV-positive people have received attention in the media. One such case in question is not informing their sexual partner of their HIV-positive status. Read more.

• Low breastfeeding rates threaten PMTCT efforts
  (16 August 2010)
  It has been reported that just six percent of mothers exclusively breastfeed their child for the first six months in Zimbabwe. Health and nutrition experts in Zimbabwe are now worried that one of the lowest exclusive breastfeeding rates in the region could impact negatively on the country's prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission (PMTCT) programme. Read more.
  

Fast facts

• Patients returning after interrupting HIV care have a high risk of short-term illness and death
  (20 July 2009)
  HIV-positive patients who return to care after being lost to follow-up are five times more likely to die in the short term than patients who remain in HIV care, French investigators report in the online edition of AIDS. Read more.

• Hepatitis C increases risk of cardiovascular disease
  (6 July 2009)
  Hepatitis C virus increases the risk of coronary artery disease, a large American study published in the 15th July edition of Clinical Infectious Diseases (now online) has found. The study involved over 160,000 individuals, approximately half of whom were infected with hepatitis C. Despite having fewer risk factors for cardiovascular disease, the hepatitis C-infected individuals were more likely to have been diagnosed with coronary artery disease. Read more.
  

News items on sexual violence

• Women in Kenya fight back against sexual violence
  (10 August 2010)
  It is a known fact that violent acts against women, such as rape, can be the cause of HIV transmission. This article relates the dangers women are living in slums in Kenya and the associated problems. However, these women have now find a way to fight back. Read more.

• Prevention for women
  (2 August 2010)
  This interesting article relates the problems associated with prevention efforts targeting women and suggests strategies that can be followed to prevent HIV-infection in women. Read more.

• UN releases practical toolkit on how to deter sexual violence in war
  (12 July 2010)
  The UN released a toolkit on how to prevent sexual violence in war situations. It is called Addressing Conflict-Related Sexual Violence-An Analytical Inventory of Peacekeeping Practice. This was a long sought after guide since sexual violence is a reality in war stricken areas. Read more.

• Read more about the Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI)

You are invited to submit a document for inclusion in this category. Please send it by e-mail to afroaidsinfo@mrc.ac.za.

Last updated: 6 September 2010