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Landon Myer

Publications and source records attributed to Landon Myer.

49 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed2002

Condom use and sexual behaviors among individuals procuring free male condoms in South Africa: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Although the South African government has increased the number of male condoms distributed free to the public, there is no understanding of whether these are being used effectively to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV infection. GOAL: The study goal was to determine sexual behaviors and barriers to condom use among individuals procuring condoms distributed free to the public sector. STUDY DESIGN: In a prospective study, individuals who procured condoms from 12 public health facilities across South Africa were recruited and observed for the next 5 weeks. RESULTS: The 384 successfully observed subjects reported 3262 sexual contacts, of which 2637 (81%) involved protection with a condom. In multivariate analysis, alcohol consumption and use of other contraceptives were associated with unprotected sexual intercourse. CONCLUSION: The levels of condom use are relatively high in this population, but these data highlight several important barriers to condom use that may be targeted by future interventions.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

The Jaipur paradigm.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed2002

Barriers to accessing free condoms at public health facilities across South Africa.

OBJECTIVES: Lack of access to public sector condoms still presents a fundamental barrier to condom use in most of South Africa. This study investigated the determinants of condom procurement at public health facilities in order to inform improved public sector condom distribution and promotion strategies. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Twelve health facilities in four health regions of South Africa: Boland/Overberg, Empangeni/Jozini, Kimberley, and Pretoria. SUBJECTS: Consecutive individuals procuring condoms and a sample of individuals not procuring condoms were interviewed on their recent sexual behaviour and condom-related knowledge and attitudes. OUTCOME MEASURES: Factors associated with condom procurement. RESULTS: Across all facilities, 554 individuals procuring condoms and a comparison group of 261 individuals not procuring condoms were interviewed. Eighty-three (33%) of those interviewed who were not procuring condoms stated that they would like to do so. Several potential barriers to condom procurement, including female gender and perceived risk of HIV, showed substantially different associations in different study regions. Only two factors, negative partner attitudes towards condoms and the use of other forms of contraception, were consistently associated with a decreased probability of condom procurement across all regions. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the barriers to condom procurement may vary considerably across South Africa. This heterogeneity suggests that national-level interventions to promote condom procurement and use may be less appropriate than specialised interventions addressing locally relevant factors, including those identified here.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Willingness to participate in South African HIV vaccine trials--concerns of medical professionals in the Western Cape.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the willingness of medical doctors working at a tertiary hospital to participate in HIV vaccine trials, their perceptions of patients' willingness to participate, and the major reasons underlying these views. DESIGN: A self-administered, anonymous postal survey conducted in two rounds between May and July 2001. SETTING: A tertiary care hospital in the Western Cape. SUBJECTS: All medical doctors listed on the hospital's staff directory. OUTCOME MEASURES: Willingness to participate in, and to recruit patients into, HIV vaccine trials, and the reasons for this. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Of the 289 individuals surveyed, 80% stated either that they would not be willing to participate in HIV vaccine trials or that they were unsure about their participation. Meanwhile, 37% stated that they would be willing to recruit patients into vaccine trials. The most common concerns with trial participation were the possibility of vaccine-induced infection and the possibility of testing positive for antibodies to HIV. The surprisingly low level of willingness to participate in trials in this sample of medical professionals highlights the importance of preparatory work to overcome substantial barriers to HIV vaccine trial participation.

AIDS Vaccines↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Why do women seek antenatal care late? Perspectives from rural South Africa.

Despite the widespread availability of free antenatal care services, most women in rural South Africa attend their first antenatal clinic late in pregnancy and fail to return for any followup care, potentially leading to avoidable perinatal and maternal complications. Using interviews with pregnant women from the rural Hlabisa district of South Africa, we documented perceptions of health and health care during pregnancy and investigated factors shaping the utilization of antenatal care. Our findings indicate that most women in this setting do not perceive significant health threats during pregnancy, and in turn view more than one antenatal care visit as unnecessary. In contrast, women perceive labour and delivery as a time of significant health risks that require biomedical attention, and most women prefer to give birth in a health facility. This paradox, in which health care is important for childbirth but not during pregnancy, is embodied in most women's primary reason for seeking antenatal care in this setting: to receive an antenatal attendance card that is required to deliver at a health facility. Health education programs promoting antenatal care are required to explain the importance of effective antenatal care toward maternal and child health.

Adolescent↗