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International students are susceptible to threats to their well-being, as their immigrant status in host societies exposes them to unique challenges such as language difficulties, cultural differences, social isolation, and discrimination (to list a few). Relationships are an important component of individuals' well-being that can mitigate these challenges. Hence, this study aimed to explore the experiences of relational well-being of African international students at a South African university. The study adopted a qualitative design wherein semi-structured interviews were employed to collect data from 16 participants (mean age = 24; females = 5; males = 11). Using thematic analysis, we found that African international students have reciprocal positive relationships with local and other immigrant students, and these contribute to well-being outcomes in the social, psychological, and educational domains of life. In addition, the prevailing institutional culture and the availability of spaces that provide opportunities for interaction are important determinants of relational experiences in the university campus space. It is recommended that student affairs departments create spaces in which African international students could further engage and interact with a diverse group of students to enhance their relational well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Men and women living with HIV with access to ARVs are living longer, healthier lives that can and often do include bearing children. Children occupy a key space in men and women's personal and social lives and often play a fundamental role in maintaining these relationships, irrespective of illness concerns. Couples living with HIV need to balance prevention needs and ill-health while trying to maintain healthy relationships. Health-care providers serving the reproductive needs of HIV-affected couples need to consider the social and relational factors shaping reproductive decisions associated with periconception risk behaviors. This paper based on qualitative research at three hospital sites in eThekwini District, South Africa, investigates the childbearing intentions and needs of people living with HIV (PLHIV), and the attitudes and experiences of health-care providers serving the reproductive needs of PLHIV, and client and provider views and knowledge of safer conception. This research revealed that personal, social, and relationship dynamics shape the reproductive decisions of PLHIV, and “unplanned” pregnancies are not always unintended. Additionally, conception desires are not driven by the number of living children; rather clients are motivated by whether or not they have had any children with their current partner/spouse. Providers should consider the relationship status of clients in discussions about childbearing desires and intentions. Although many providers recognize the complex social realities shaping their clients' reproductive decisions, they have outdated information on serving their reproductive needs. Appropriate training to enable providers to better understand the relationship and social realities surrounding their clients' childbearing intentions is required and should be used as a platform for couples to work together with providers toward safer conception. The adoption of a more participatory approach should be employed to equalize client–provider power dynamics and to ensure clients are more involved in decision-making about reproduction and conception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective(s): The childbearing needs of people living with HIV (PLHIV) and the experiences of healthcare providers serving them are explored. We examine provider and client knowledge and views on safer conception methods., Methods: The study uses exploratory qualitative research to understand provider and client perspectives on childbearing and safer conception. Interviews were conducted at 3 sites (1 rural, 2 urban) in eThekwini District, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa between May 2011 and August 2012, including in-depth interviews with 43 PLHIV, 2 focus group discussions and 12 in-depth interviews with providers., Results: Clients had little knowledge and providers had limited knowledge of safer conception methods. While clients were eager to receive counseling on safer conception, providers had some hesitations but were eager to receive training in delivering safer conception services. Clients and providers noted that biological parentage is a major concern of PLHIV. Clients were willing to use any of the described methods to have biological children but some expressed concerns about potential risks associated with timed unprotected intercourse. Male clients required access to reproductive health information., Conclusions: Providers need to routinely initiate discussions with clients about childbearing intentions. Providers need to be enabled with approved guidelines and training to support client access to safer conception methods., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Thielaviopsis ethacetica was recently reinstated as a distinct taxon using DNA phylogenies. It is widespread affecting several crop plants of global economic importance. In this study, microsatellite markers were developed and used in conjunction with sequence data to investigate the genetic diversity and structure of Th. ethacetica in Cameroon. A collection of 71 isolates from cacao, oil palm, and pineapple, supplemented with nine isolates from other countries were analysed. Four genetic groups were identified. Two of these were associated with oil palm in Cameroon and showed high genetic diversity, suggesting that they might represent an indigenous population of the pathogen. In contrast, the remaining two groups, associated with cacao and pineapple, had low genetic diversity and, most likely, represent introduced populations. There was no evidence of gene flow between these groups. Phylogenetic analyses based on sequences of the tef1-α as well as the combined flanking regions of six microsatellite loci were consistent with population genetic analyses and suggested that Th. ethacetica is comprised of two divergent genetic lineages., (Copyright © 2015 The British Mycological Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)