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ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the contributions of different forms of intimate partner violence (physical violence, sexual violence, psychological abuse, and stalking) on symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. METHODS: In all 268 women (18 years and older) consecutively receiving a protection order in the Vhembe district in South Africa were assessed by an external interviewer. Hierarchical regressions tested the unique effects of different types of intimate partner violence on PTSD and depression. RESULTS: In terms of PTSD symptom severity, more than half (51.9%) of the sample reported severe PTSD and 66.4% reported severe depression symptoms. Two types of intimate partner violence (physical and sexual) were significantly associated with PTSD symptoms, while only psychological violence was moderately correlated with depression symptoms. Physical abuse contributed to the prediction of PTSD and psychological abuse to depression. CONCLUSIONS: A significant number of women with protection orders suffer from PTSD and depression. The results confirm a relationship between severity of intimate partner violence and mental health problems (PTSD and depression). Assessment of intimate partner violence should incorporate the multiple dimensions that have been identified as contributing to poor mental health.
General hospital psychiatry 05/2013; · 2.67 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to test a 180-minute group HIV risk-reduction counseling intervention trial with men undergoing traditional circumcision in South Africa to reduce behavioral disinhibition (false security) as a result of the procedure. A cluster randomized controlled trial design was employed using a sample of 160 men, 80 in the experimental group and 80 in the control group. Comparisons between baseline and 3-month follow-up assessments on key behavioral outcomes were completed. We found that behavioral intentions, risk-reduction skills, and male role norms did not change in the experimental compared to the control condition. However, HIV-related stigma beliefs were significantly reduced in both conditions over time. These findings show that one small-group HIV risk-reduction intervention did not reduce sexual risk behaviors in recently traditionally circumcised men at high risk for behavioral disinhibition.
The Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care: JANAC 06/2011; 22(5):397-406. · 0.96 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Medical male circumcision (MMC) is now considered one of the best available evidence-based biomedical HIV prevention interventions. However, there is some concern about risks for behavioural disinhibition, or risk compensation, following MMC.
The aim of this study was to test a brief one-session (180 min) group culturally tailored HIV risk reduction counselling intervention among men undergoing medical circumcision in South Africa in order to limit behavioural disinhibition.
A randomized controlled trial design was employed using a sample of 150 men, 75 in the experimental group and 75 in the control group. Comparisons between baseline and 3-month follow-up assessments on several key behavioural outcomes addressed by the intervention were done.
Our study found that behavioural intentions and risk reduction skills significantly increased and sexual risk behaviour (reduction of the number of sexual partners and the number of unprotected vaginal sexual intercourse occasions) significantly decreased in the experimental compared to the control condition. However, male role norms did not change among the intervention conditions over time, while AIDS-related stigma beliefs significantly reduced in both conditions over time.
Study findings show that a relatively brief (one session) and focused HIV risk reduction counselling can have at least short-term effects on reducing sexual risk behaviours in populations at high risk for behavioural disinhibition following medical male circumcision.
International Journal of Behavioral Medicine 06/2011; 19(3):336-41. · 2.63 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to assess the safety of traditional male circumcision practices among Ndebele traditional surgeons following a five days training by direct observation of circumcision procedures. The sample included eight Ndebele traditional surgeons and traditional nurses and 86 initiates (abakhwetwa) from two districts in Gauteng province in South Africa. A structured observations tool was administered by a trained research doctor during circumcisions and (wound) care of the initiates of the trained traditional surgeons. Results indicate that from the observations of 86 traditional male circumcisions a high number (37%) of adverse events were recorded (excessive bleeding, excessive skin removed and damage to the penis) and in six cases the use of one instrument for the circumcision was observed. Before scaling up and/or considering integration traditional male circumcision services into medical male circumcision services in South Africa, a careful strategy to minimize unnecessary morbidity, and fundamental improvements on current traditional male circumcision techniques, are required. In addition, legislation and control of traditional male circumcision in Gauteng province, where the study took place, are recommended to make traditional male circumcision safer and to prevent adverse events to happen.
African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines 01/2009; 7(2):153-9. · 0.71 Impact Factor
