Background: Over 30% of women and men in the South African national HIV household of 2005 indicated that they had previously been tested for HIV (of which 91% were aware of their test results). This paper seeks to describe the associations between socio-demographic, behavioural and social characteristics and knowledge of HIV status among a nationally representative population in South Africa.

Immunological non-inferiority of a new fully liquid presentation of the MenACWY-CRM vaccine to the licensed vaccine: results from a randomized, controlled, observer-blind study in adolescents and young adults, Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics,

The research uses data from a representative national survey to explore the determinants of age at sexual debut among South African youths in the age group 15-24 years. A random sample of 5 708 youths were interviewed and 92% responded to questions on whether or not they had ever had sex and their age at first sex for those who had. The research used survival analyses techniques to combine 'current status data' and 'recall data' for respondents who reported ever having had sex. The females were more likely than the males to report ever having had sex (p≤0.001). The median age at sexual debut was 18 years for both males and females. The hazard ratio pertaining to early sexual debut was 0.81-times less for those in the age group 15-19 as compared to those in the age group 20-24 (p≤0.001). Age, race, geographical location, and level of education were found to be important determinants of age at sexual debut. The 'hazards of sexual debut' (θ=0.112; p≤0.001) varied significantly between geographical areas (rural or urban). Youths with an earlier age of sexual debut were less likely to have used condoms, a behaviour which increases their risk of HIV infection. HIV prevalence was consistently higher among the females than among the males. We recommend that HIV-prevention interventions target community sets rather than only individuals at higher risk of exposure to HIV.

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Sixty at risk of coronary heart disease subjects in the age group of 40-60 years were selected from Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. The subjects were equally divided into three groups i.e. E 1, E 2 and C respectively. Flaxseed in powdered form was supplemented at the levels of 5 and 10 g to E 1 and E 2 groups respectively for a period of two months, while C group was not supplemented. The effects of flaxseed powder were studied on nutrient and hematological profile of the subjects. After the supplementation, significant (p<0.05) decrease in the energy intake was reported in E 2 group while protein intake significantly (p<0.05) increased in E 2 group and total fat intake reduced significantly (p<0.05) in all three groups. Decrease in energy intake could be due to flaxseed supplementation which is good source of soluble fibre thus gives feeling of fullness and reduced the food intake which ultimately decreased the energy intake. The mean intake of vitamin B 2 , B 3 and vitamin C decreased in all the three groups, though it was nonsignificant. Further, an increase in haemoglobin was reported in experimental groups which could be due to presence of protein, copper, folic acid and vitamin B 6 in flaxseed which helped in hemopoesis and thus improved iron status.