INTRODUCTIONDespite a global decrease of maternal mortality by 44% in the past two decades, 99% of the global 830 women that die daily from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth still occur in poor and rural communities in developing countries.1 Fortunately, the risk of death from a birth complication can be detected early and averted if a woman attends the minimum four quality antenatal clinic (ANC) visits often referred to as focused antenatal care (FANC). Methods:Descriptive cross-sectional design was used to study 326 postnatal mothers in three primary health facilities. Systematic sampling technique was used. We collected data using a researcher-administered structured questionnaire and focused group discussion. Quantitative data analysis was conducted using statistical package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0 and involved univariate and bivariate analysis. Chi-square were used to test the significance of the association between the dependent and independent variables (p<0.05). Qualitative data was analyzed by thematic content analysis. Results: IBP utilization was low 48.2% (95% CI (42.7%-58.6%) despite high ANC attendance. Identifying a blood donor was the least utilized component (25%

Involvement of males in reproductive health is an important step in reducing maternal and newborn deaths. A number of pregnant women attending Coast Level Five Hospital report waiting for their male partner to discuss and choose the delivery site. Although some do this when already in labour , there are no records on how many practice this and the influence of the couple knowledge and perception on male partner involvement in choice of delivery site. This descriptive cross-sectional study aimed at establishing the level of male partner involvement and influence of couple knowledge and perception on male involvement in choice of delivery site among women who delivered at this facility. Systematic sampling was used to select the participants. A semi-structured questionnaire and focus group discussion guide were used to collect data. Chi-square and binary logistic regression were used for statistical analysis. 40.6% of male partners were involved in choice of delivery site, women knowled ge (χ2-19.256; df-1; p<0.001), women (χ2-11.347; df-1; p=0.001) and male partners' perception (χ2-10.909; df-1; p=0.001) influenced male partner involvement. However, women knowledge was the only predictor of male involvement (OR-3.843; 95% CI, 2.082-7.092; P<0.001). Male partner involvement was low, empowering women and encouraging positive perception among women and male partners will enhance male partner involvement in choice of delivery site. The health workers in Mombasa should come up with health education and communication strategies to improve public knowledge and perception towards male involvement and ultimately improve the level of male partner involvement in choice of delivery site. RésuméLa participation des hommes à la santé de la reproduction est une étape importante dans la réduction de la mortalité maternelle et néonatale. Un certain nombre des femmes enceintes fréquentant l'Hôpital Coast Level Five signalent avoir attendu leur partenaire masculin pour discuter et pour choisir le lieu d'accouchement. Bien que certaines ne le fassent que quand elles sont déjà en travail, il n'y a pas de dossiers sur le nombre des femmes qui la pratique, et l'influence de la connaissance du couple et la perception sur la participation des partenaires de sexe masculin dans le choix du de lieu d'accouchement. Cette étude transversale descriptive s'est donnée comme objectif d'établir le niveau de la participation des partenaires de sexe masculin et l'influence de la connaissance chez les couples et la perception sur la participation des hommes au choix du lieu d'accouchement au sein des femmes qui ont accouché dans cet établissement. L'échantillonnage systématique a été utilisé pour sélectionner les participants. Nous nous sommes servi d'un questionnaire semi-structuré et un guide de groupe de discussion cible pour recueillir des données. Le Chi-carré et la régression logistique binaire ont été utilisés pour l'analyse statistique. 40,6% des partenaires masculins ont participé au choix du lieu d'accouchement, la connaissance che...

Table of contents A1 Introduction to the 2nd synchronicity forum of GHRI/CHVI-funded Canadian and African HIV prevention and vaccine teams O1 Voluntary medical male circumcision for prevention of heterosexual transmission of HIV in adult males in Soweto: What do indicators and incidence rate show? Hillary Mukudu, Neil Martinson, Benn Sartorius O2 Developing a peer-led community mobilization program for sex workers in Soweto: HIV risk and demographics Jenny Coetzee, Janan Dietrich, Kgaugelo Mokgatswana, Rachel Jewkes, Glenda E. Gray O3 Salient beliefs about adherence: A qualitative survey conducted as part of the demonstration study on "treatment as prevention" (TasP) and "pre-exposure prophylaxis" (PrEP) among female sex workers (FSWS) in Cotonou, Benin Marylène Dugas, Luc Béhanzin, Fernand A. Guédou, Marie-Pierre Gagnon, Michel Alary O4 Relative perception of risk as a driver of unsafe sexual practices among key populations: Cases of fisherfolk and women and their partners involved in multiple sexual partnerships in Uganda Rwamahe Rutakumwa, Martin Mbonye, Thadeus Kiwanuka, Sarah Nakamanya, Richard Muhumuza, Winfred Nalukenge, Janet Seeley O5 Exploring the acceptability of new biomedical HIV prevention technologies among MSM, adolescents and heterosexual adults in South Africa Millicent Atujuna, Melissa Wallace, Ben Brown, Linda Gail Bekker, Peter A. Newman O6 HIV-susceptible target cells in foreskins after voluntary medical male circumcision in South Africa Rushil Harryparsad, Abraham J. Olivier, Heather B. Jaspan, Douglas Wilson, Janan Dietrich, Neil Martinson, Hillary Mukudu, Nonhlanhla Mkhize, Lynn Morris, Gianguido Cianci, Minh Dinh, Thomas Hope, Jo-Ann S. Passmore, Clive M. Gray O7 HIV-1 proteins activate innate immune responses via TLR2 heterodimers Bethany M. Henrick, Xiao-Dan Yao, Kenneth L. Rosenthal, the INFANT Study Team O8 Characterization of an innate factor in human milk and mechanisms of action against HIV-1 Bethany M. Henrick, Xiao-Dan Yao, Anna G. Drannik, Alash’le Abimiku, Kenneth L. Rosenthal, the INFANT Study Team O9 Secretor status and susceptibility to HIV infections among female sex workers in Nairobi, Kenya Nadia Chanzu, Walter Mwanda, Julius Oyugi, Omu Anzala O10 Natural Killer cell recall responsiveness to Gag-HIV-1 peptides of HIV-1 exposed but uninfected subjects are associated with peripheral CXCR6+ NK cell subsets Moustapha Mbow, Sabelle Jallow, Moussa Thiam, Alberta Davis, Assane Diouf, Cheikh T. Ndour, Moussa Seydi, Tandakha N. Dieye, Souleymane Mboup, Martin Goodier, Eleanor Rilley, Assan Jaye O11 Profiles of resistance: Local innate mucosal immunity to HIV-1 in commercial sex workers Xiao-Dan Yao, RW. Omange, Bethany M. Henrick, Richard T. Lester, Joshua Kimani, T. Blake Ball, Francis A. Plummer, Kenneth L. Rosenthal ...

This study aimed at finding out the effects of mobile health ( mhealth) technologies on uptake of Routine Growth Monitoring (RGM) among caregivers of children aged above 9 months in Kenya. This was a quasi-experimental study. The experiment groups received Short Text Message (STM) and Voice Call (VC). The analysis demonstrates that in month 1, caregivers who received STM were 6.875 times more likely to take their children for RGM compared to control (OR = 6.875; 95 CI: 3.591-13.164); caregivers who received VC were 6.750 times more likely to take their children for RGM compared to those in control arm (OR = 6.750; 95 CI: 3.522-12.938). Policy makers and implementers in the health will find these study findings useful in deciding whether or not to adopt STM or VC in improving uptake of RGM for children above 9 months.

Aims: The objective of this study was to determine the factors that increase vulnerability to sexual violence of adolescent girls in secondary schools in Limuru sub-county, Kiambu, Kenya. Methods: The study was cross-sectional in nature and collected qualitative and quantitative data on 301 adolescent girls aged 15–19 years. Data collection was achieved through the use of self-administered questionnaires and three focus group discussions. Findings The response rate was 99.67% (300 of 301 questionnaires). Among the respondents, 33% were victims of sexual violence. Factors that showed a significant association with vulnerability to sexual violence against adolescent girls were: alcohol use (OR = 3.4; P = 0.001), forced sex at debut (OR = 62.4;P < 0.001) and family connectedness (OR = 10.6; P = 0.001). Socioeconomic status and age of adolescent girl did not show any significant association. Conclusion: This study found that alcohol use, forced sexual debut and not living with both parents may increase girls' vulnerability to sexual violence. These findings could be used to create targeted interventions to reduce occurrence of sexual violence against adolescent girls.