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Introduction: Currently, research ethics capacity development is limited to research ethics committee (REC) members, and little research has been done on research ethics administrators, leading to lack of standardised requirements for this role, its responsibilities, and training requirements for fulfilling the supportive role for RECs. Although the role is administrative, research ethics administrators’ duties exceed those of just simple administration, and include complex demands such as preparing for audits. This study proposed and validated a capacity development framework for research ethics administrators in South Africa. Methods: A scoping review was done to gain deeper insight into the history and current status of REC administration, with a specific focus on capacity development programs available for research ethics administrators. A questionnaire was then distributed to 36 research ethics administrators to determine the current responsibilities, training requirements and needs of the role, focusing on the local situation of REC capacity development. The first draft of the capacity development framework was developed through triangulating findings from the scoping review and questionnaire. A Delphi survey of the designed framework, completed by 13 experts from South Africa and abroad, was then conducted until consensus was reached. Results: From the 22 studies synthesised in the scoping review, two reported that there had been two capacity development efforts for administrators in Africa, namely the African Conference for Administrators of Research Ethics Committees, and the West African Bioethics Training Program. Thirty-six (36) administrators from National Health Research Ethics Council-registered ethics committees in South Africa participated in the online cross- sectional survey. Nearly 49% of the participants indicated that they had only received informal research-ethics-related training – not targeted formal training. Of the 23 research ethics exper

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the extent and predictors of condom use and condom refusal in the Free State province in South Africa. METHODS: Through a household survey conducted in the Free Sate province of South Africa, 5,837 adults were interviewed. Univariate and multivariate survey logistic regressions and classification trees (CT) were used for analysing two response variables 'ever used condom' and 'ever refused condom'. RESULTS: Eighty-three per cent of the respondents had ever used condoms, of which 38% always used them; 61% used them during the last sexual intercourse and 9% had ever refused to use them. The univariate logistic regression models and CT analysis indicated that a strong predictor of condom use was its perceived need. In the CT analysis, this variable was followed in importance by 'knowledge of correct use of condom', condom availability, young age, being single and higher education. 'Perceived need' for condoms did not remain significant in the multivariate analysis after controlling for other variables. The strongest predictor of condom refusal, as shown by the CT, was shame associated with condoms followed by the presence of sexual risk behaviour, knowing one's HIV status, older age and lacking knowledge of condoms (i.e., ability to prevent sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy, availability, correct and consistent use and existence of female condoms). In the multivariate logistic regression, age was not significant for condom refusal while affordability and perceived need were additional significant variables. CONCLUSIONS: The use of complementary modelling techniques such as CT in addition to logistic regressions adds to a better understanding of condom use and refusal. Further improvement in correct and consistent use of condoms will require targeted interventions. In addition to existing social marketing campaigns, tailored approaches should focus on establishing the perceived need for condom-use and improving skills for co

English: Mother-to-child (vertical) transmission is the primary means by which young children acquire human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV -1) infection. Anti-retrovirals such as Zidovudine and nevirapine can reduce vertical transmission of HIV significantly, but this treatment is still largely unaffordable in Africa. Maternal vitamin A deficiency is suspected to enhance vertical transmission of HIV. Furthermore, vitamin A is known to act as a coenzyme to the immune process. Therefore, a double-blind randomized placebo controlled trial to assess the effect of vitamin A supplementation on vertical transmission of HIV was launched in Bloemfontein in 1997. A total of 2949 pregnant women attending the antenatal clinics at Pelonomi and Universitas hospitals and the Mangaung University Community Partnership clinic were counselled for HIV testing, and 2543 were willing to be screened by HIV testing for possible inclusion in the trial. Of the women screened 595 (23.4%) were HIV positive, and 303 of these were willing to participate in the trial. 152 women were randomized to vitamin A treatment and 151 to placebo treatment. Patients were seen at 2 monthly intervals in the antenatal phase. Post-natally mother-infants pairs were seen when the infant was 1 month old, 3 months old, and thereafter, 3 monthly till 18 months old. A total of 191 patients (63% of all the study participants) missed one or more visits and had to be traced. Of the 303 patients included in the study 158 had a conclusive infant HIV test result (patients in the Intention To Treat (!TT) analysis population) and 104 patients had a conclusive infant mv test result when the baby was 3 months old (patients in the Per Protocol (PP) analysis population). Of 158 patients, in the ITT population 73 were in the vitamin A group and 85 in the placebo group. Per treatment group the baseline characteristics of those in the IIT population and those who are not, did not differ significanti y. The mv transmission rates, Afrikaans: Moeder-na-kind (vertikale) oordrag is die algemeenste mamer waarop Jong kinders menslike immuniteitsgebrek virus tipe 1 (MIV -1) opdoen. Antiretrovirale middels soos Zidovudine en nevirapine kan die vertikale oordrag van MIV betekenisvol verlaag, maar hierdie behandeling is steeds meestal nie bekostigbaar in Afrika nie. Daar word vermoed dat moederlike vitamine A gebrek die vertikale oordrag van MIV bevorder. Verder is dit bekend dat vitamine A 'n ko-ensiem is tot die immuunproses. Daarom is 'n gerandomiseerde dubbelblinde plasebo gekontrolleerde proef om die effek van vitamine A supplementasie op die vertikale oordrag van HIV te bepaal in 1997 in Bloemfontein van stapel gestuur. 'n Totaal van 2949 swanger vroue wat die voorgeboorteklinieke by die Universitas en Pelonomi Hospitale en die Mangaung University Community Partnership Project kliniek bygewoon het, het berading vir MIV-toetsing ontvang, en 2543 was bereid om deur MIVtoetsing gesif te word vir moontlike insluiting in die proef. Van die vroue wat gesif is, was 595 (23.4%) MIV-positief, en 303 van hulle het ingewillig om aan die studie deel te neem. 152 MIV positiewe vroue is gerandomiseer om vitamine A behandeling te ontvang en 151 plasebo behandeling. Pasiënte is tydens die voorgeboorte fase 2 maandeliks gesien. In die nageboorte fase is moeder-baba pare gesien toe die baba 1 maand oud was, 3 maande oud en daarna 3 maandeliks tot 18 maande oud. 'n Totaal van 191 pasiënte (63% van al die studiedeelnemers) het een of meer besoek gemis en moes opgespoor word. Van die 303 vroue wat ingesluit is in die studie, het 158 'n afdoende baba-MIV toetsuitslag gehad (pasiënte in die Beplan om te Behandel (BB) ontledingspopulasie) en 104 pasiënte het 'n afdoende baba MIV toetsuitslag gehad toe die baba 3 maade oud was (pasiënte in die Per Protokol (PP) ontledingspopulasie). Van die 158 pasiënte in die BB populasie was 73 in die vitamine A groep en 85 in die plasebo groep. Per behandelingsgroep was daar geen bet, South African Medical Research Council (MRC), University of the Free State Central Research Fund, Foundation for Research Development (FRD)