Biomedical subjects

J Vyankandondera

Publications and source records attributed to J Vyankandondera.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Preparing for microbicide trials in Rwanda: focus group discussions with Rwandan women and men.

The acceptability and feasibility of microbicide studies and future microbicide use are influenced by existing norms and values regarding sexual and contraceptive behaviour. In preparation for microbicide research in Rwanda, focus group discussions were conducted to assess sexual and contraceptive behaviour, preferences for vaginal lubrication, and hypothetical acceptability of microbicides among Rwandan women and men. Seven focus group discussions were conducted among sexually active married women, unmarried women, sex workers, female students, older women and men living in Kigali, Rwanda, and an additional group of women living in a rural area. The results indicate that condom use is low among Rwandan men and women and that condoms are mainly used by men during commercial sex. Women have limited power to negotiate condom or family planning use. Vaginal hygiene practices are very common and consist primarily of washing with water. Lubrication during sex is highly preferred by both men and women. Hypothetical microbicide acceptability after an explanation of what microbicides are and a demonstration with lubricant jelly was high.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Compliance with hormone replacement therapy].

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) after menopause reduces climacteric symptoms and increases the quality of life. If correct dosage is used, bone loss can be prevented and fracture frequency reduced. Epidemiological studies also suggest a decreased cardio-vascular mortality among HRT users. A high proportion of post-menopausal women should therefore be treated using long-term therapy, but currently only a small proportion of women use HRT in Belgium, (around 14%). Further their compliance is particularly low. Fear of cancer and drug-related side effects, such as unaccepted bleeding are often mentioned causes of low compliance. Education of both physicians and patients, regarding HRT seems to be a crucial issue. The physician's attitude towards HRT is often reported as negative. Osteoporosis prevention and related bone mass measurements may have a favorable effect on compliance, but this is not well established. Establishing a confidential relationship with patients and the involvement of nursing counseling are strategies which may improve compliance. The use of easy-to-take medications supported by calendar blisters or reminders, may facilitate chronic use of medication. Future research needs to investigate the physician's and the patient's decision-making process.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The brittle bone: how to save women from osteoporosis.

For a woman, the risk of suffering an osteoporotic fracture during her lifetime is higher than the combined risk of breast, endometrial, and ovarian cancer. It is important to reduce the number of osteoporosis-related fractures. Therefore, it is necessary to emphasize various interventions and attitudes which will decrease both the risk of falling and that of breaking bones. Strategies should be followed to reach adulthood with an optimal bone mass through improved diet and exercise during childhood. Programs that identify women with the lowest bone mass at the time of menopause may be useful, since prophylactic measures against osteoporosis such as hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can be offered to them. Identification of women at risk can be achieved through bone densitometry; a decrease of each standard deviation of bone mineral mass below mean values predicts a doubling of the fracture risk. Some data suggest that physicians are more willing to prescribe HRT specifically to women with the lowest bone mass, and that the latter are more likely to stay on therapy for longer periods of time. The decision to use HRT should be taken by the patient after proper information of all benefits (diminished climacteric symptoms, decrease of cardiovascular risk) and potential risks (possible enhanced breast cancer risk, appearance of side effect). In women who do not want to take HRT, or for whom contraindications exist, alternative medications, such as calcium, vitamin D and biphosphonates can be considered, depending on fracture risk. For older and institutionalized women, programs should be developed to decrease the risk of falling. Likewise, it may be possible to reduce the consequences of a fall, for instance by promoting the development of energy-absorbing hip pads, which reduce fracture risk.

Bone Density↗