Individual differences in maternal behavior are affected by both early life experiences and oxytocin, but little is known about genetic variation in oxytocin genes and its effects on mothering. We examined two polymorphisms in the oxytocin peptide gene OXT (rs2740210 and rs4813627) and one polymorphism in the oxytocin receptor gene OXTR (rs237885) in 187 Caucasian mothers at six months postpart...

are saved, which would not have been, had no ante-natal care been bestowed on the pregnant mother. Assuredly this is of the greatest importance, not only personally for the patient and her child but also socially for the country, which is being faced at present with a declining birth-rate, and thus everything possible should be done to aid the pregnant woman and her unborn child. This has not o...

We assessed the incidence and predictors of unprotected sex among 152 HIV-positive patients in clinical care in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Nearly 50% were sexually active; 30% of those reported unprotected sex. Alcohol use during sex, reporting forced sex, sex with a perceived HIV-positive partner, and sex with a casual partner predicted more unprotected sex, whereas HIV status disclosure was...

INTRODUCTION Kenya records a high maternal mortality ratio 362 maternal deaths per 100 000 live births. Tharaka Sub County has poor transport infrastructure, low levels of socio-economic status and long distances to health facilities. Secondary to these factors, delivering in a health facility is a challenge. Delivering in a health facility is one of the strategies to avert maternal death throu...

A descriptive survey was conducted to investigate strikes by nursing personnel as a challenge for nurse managers in KwaZulu-Natal Province. Data was collected from nurse managers and various categories of nursing personnel excluding student and pupil nurses. Results confirmed that patient care is adversely affected by nurses' strikes. There is division in opinions on the nurses' strikes. It is ...

Dispersal is a major determinant of the dynamics and genetic structure of populations, and its consequences depend not only on average dispersal rates and distances, but also on the characteristics of dispersing and philopatric individuals. We investigated whether natal dispersal correlated with a predisposed behavioural trait: exploratory behaviour in novel environments. Wild great tits were c...

Meeting the high nutrient needs of pregnant and lactating women and their young children in regions such as South Asia is challenging because diets are dominated by staple foods with low nutrient density and poor mineral bioavailability. Gaps in nutritional adequacy in such populations probably date back to the agricultural revolution ~10 000 years ago. Options for improving diets during the fi...

We evaluated a point-of-care test for the detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in patients attending a public health clinic in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The test showed a low sensitivity against PCR and culture (<40%); however, a higher specificity was observed (>95%). This test is unsuitable as a screening tool for gonorrhea.

We describe a death associated with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis and HIV infection outside Africa that can be linked to Tugela Ferry (KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa), the town most closely associated with the regional epidemic of drug-resistant tuberculosis. This case underscores the international relevance of this regional epidemic, particularly among health care workers.