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The continuous emission of CO2 from anthropogenic activities poses a severe challenge to environmental sustainability. Activated carbon from bio-wastes has evolved as a cost-effect and efficient adsorbent for sequestering harmful gases like CO2. This study investigates the adsorption of CO2 using composite activated carbon from almond and mango seed shells. Three (3) different samples, including the activated almond seed shell (AC-KA), the mango seed shell (AC-KM), and the almond-mango seed shell composite (AC-KAM), were developed using KOH as an activating agent at 380 °C and characterized to determine their suitability as adsorbents. The nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms indicate that the activated carbon samples are type I microporous solids. The BET results showed that the AC-KM had the highest specific surface area of 629 m2/g and an average pore diameter of 2.12 nm, followed by the composite AC-KAM sample with a BET surface area and pore diameter of 380 m2/g and 1.78 nm, respectively. The SEM–EDX results showed that the composite AC-KAM had the highest atomic carbon percentage of 59.23%, making it a relatively good source of activated carbon. The FTIR analysis indicated the presence of similar functional groups, especially the primary amine group, with a high affinity for acid gases, in all three samples. The CO2 adsorption experiment results showed that the Langmuir equation adequately modeled the AC-KAM adsorption process, with an adsorption capacity of 1.6245 mmol/g at 26 °C. A Freundlich exponent of n > 1 showed that the adsorption process was favorable. Therefore, the AC-KAM sample can be used as an adsorbent for ambient low-concentration CO2 capture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Key population (KP) members frequently experience violence that violates their human rights, increases their risk of HIV, and acts as a barrier to access and uptake of HIV services. To be effective, HIV programmes for members of KPs need to prevent and respond to violence against them. We describe a violence prevention and response strategy led by the national KP programme in Kenya and examine trends in reports of and responses to violence (provision of support to an individual who reports violence within 24 hours of receiving the report). Methods: Quarterly programme monitoring data on the number of reports of violence and the number of responses to violence from 81 implementing partners between October 2013 and September 2017 were aggregated annually and analysed using simple trend analysis. Reports of violence relative to KP members reached, expressed as a percentage, and the percentage of reports of violence that received a response were also examined. Results and Discussion: Between 2013 and 2017, annual reports of violence increased from 4171 to 13,496 cases among female sex workers (FSWs), 910 to 1122 cases among men who have sex with men (MSM) and 121 to 873 cases among people who inject drugs (PWID). Reports of violence relative to KP members reached increased among FSWs (6.2% to 9.7%; p < 0.001) and PWID (2.1% to 6.0%; p < 0.001) and decreased among MSM (10.0% to 4.2%; p < 0.001). During the same period, timely responses to reports of violence increased from 53% to 84% (p < 0.001) among FSWs, 44% to 80% (p < 0.001) among MSM and 37% to 97% (p < 0.001) among PWID. Conclusions: Over the past four years in Kenya, there has been an increase in violence reporting among FSWs and PWID and an increase in violence response among all KPs. This case study demonstrates that violence against KP members can be effectively addressed under the leadership of the national government, even in an environment where KP members' behaviours are criminalized. Creating an enabling environment to promote wellbeing and safety for KP members is a critical enabler for HIV prevention programmes to achieve 95-95-95 goals. Keywords: key populations; violence response; Government of Kenya; HIV; enabling environment, 1 | INTRODUCTION The HIV Prevention 2020 Roadmap provides guidance and demonstrates commitment from African countries to accelerate interventions to reduce new HIV infections by 75% [1]. In Africa, the [...]

: Introduction: In Kenya, men who have sex with men (MSM) are increasingly using virtual sites, including web‐based apps, to meet sex partners. We examined HIV testing, HIV prevalence, awareness of HIV‐positive status and linkage to antiretroviral therapy (ART), for HIV‐positive MSM who solely met partners via physical sites (PMSM), compared with those who did so in virtual sites (either solely via virtual sites (VMSM), or via both virtual and physical sites (DMSM)). Methods: We conducted a cross‐sectional bio‐behavioural survey of 1200 MSM, 15 years and above, in three counties in Kenya between May and July 2019, using random sampling of physical and virtual sites. We classified participants as PMSM, DMSM and VMSM, based on where they met sex partners, and compared the following between groups using chi‐square tests: (i) proportion tested; (ii) HIV prevalence and (iii) HIV care continuum among MSM living with HIV. We then performed multivariable logistic regression to measure independent associations between network engagement and HIV status. Results: 177 (14.7%), 768 (64.0%) and 255 (21.2%), of participants were classified as PMSM, DMSM and VMSM respectively. 68.4%, 70.4% and 78.5% of PMSM, DMSM and VMSM, respectively, reported an HIV test in the previous six months. HIV prevalence was 8.5% (PMSM), 15.4% (DMSM) and 26.7% (VMSM), p < 0.001. Among those living with HIV, 46.7% (PMSM), 41.5% (DMSM) and 29.4% (VMSM) were diagnosed and aware of their status; and 40.0%, 35.6% and 26.5% were on antiretroviral treatment. After adjustment for other predictors, MSM engaged in virtual networks remained at a two to threefold higher risk of prevalent HIV: VMSM versus PMSM (adjusted odds ratio 3.88 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.84 to 8.17) p < 0.001); DMSM versus PMSM (2.00 (95% CI 1.03 to 3.87), p = 0.040). Conclusions: Engagement in virtual networks is associated with elevated HIV risk, irrespective of individual‐level risk factors. Understanding the difference in characteristics among MSM‐seeking partners in different sites will help HIV programmes to develop subpopulation‐specific interventions., INTRODUCTION Globally, men who have sex with men (MSM) shoulder a high burden of HIV [1], with HIV acquisition risk 28 times higher than among men who only have sex [...]

: Introduction: HIV prevention cascades have emerged as a programme management and monitoring tool that outlines the sequential steps of an HIV prevention programme. We describe the application of an HIV combination prevention programme cascade framework to monitor and improve HIV prevention interventions for female sex workers (FSWs) in Kenya. Methods: Two data sources were analysed: (1) annual programme outcome surveys conducted using a polling booth survey methodology in 2017 among 4393 FSWs, and (2) routine programme monitoring data collected by (a) 92 implementing partners between July 2017 and June 2018, and (b) Learning Site in Mombasa (2014 to 2015) and Nairobi (2013). We present national, sub‐national and implementing partner level cascades. Results: At the national level, the population size estimates for FSW were 133,675 while the programme coverage targets were 174,073. Programme targets as denominator, during the period 2017 to 2018, 156,220 (90%) FSWs received peer education and contact, 148,713 (85%) received condoms and 83,053 (48%) received condoms as per their estimated need. At the outcome level, 92% of FSWs used condoms at the last sex with their client but 73% reported consistent condom use. Although 96% of FSWs had ever tested for HIV, 85% had tested in the last three months. Seventy‐nine per cent of the HIV‐positive FSWs were enrolled in HIV care, 73% were currently enrolled on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and 52% had attended an ART clinic in the last month. In the last six months, 48% of the FSWs had experienced police violence but 24% received violence support. National and sub‐national level cascades showed proportions of FSWs lost at each step of programme implementation and variability in programme achievement. Hotspot and sub‐population level cascades, presented as examples, demonstrate development and use of these cascades at the implementation level. Conclusions: HIV prevention programme cascades, drawing on multiple data sources to provide an understanding of gaps in programme outputs and outcomes, can provide powerful information for monitoring and improving HIV prevention programmes for FSWs at all levels of implementation and decision‐making. Complexity of prevention programmes and the paucity of consistent data can pose a challenge to development of these cascades., Introduction Despite the progress made by prevention programmes globally, the decline in new HIV infections among adults has slowed in the past decade. According to UNAIDS, HIV prevention services are [...]

This study was conducted to explore the decision-making processes regarding sites for delivery of infants among women, their husbands, and mothers-in-law in a rural area of northern Karnataka state, south India. Qualitative semi-structured, individual in-depth interviews were conducted in 2010 among 110 pregnant women, new mothers, husbands and mothers-in-law. Interviews were conducted by trained local researchers in participants' languages and then translated into English. Decisions were made relationally, as family members weighed their collective attitudes and experiences towards a home, private or public delivery. Patterns of both concordance and discordance between women and their families' preferences for delivery site were present. The voice of pregnant women and new mothers was not always subordinate to that of other family members. Still, the involvement of husbands and mothers-in-law was important in decision-making, indicating the need to consider the influence of household gender and power dynamics. All respondent types also expressed shifts in social context and cultural attitudes towards increasing preference for hospital delivery. An appreciation of the interdependence of family members' roles in delivery site decision-making, and how they are influenced by the socio-cultural context, must be considered in frameworks used to guide the development of relevant interventions to improve the utilization and quality of maternal, neonatal and child health services., Author(s): Andrea Katryn Blanchard[sup.1] , Sharon Gail Bruce[sup.1] , Krishnamurthy Jayanna[sup.1] [sup.2] , Kaveri Gurav[sup.2] , Haranahalli L. Mohan[sup.1] [sup.2] , Lisa Avery[sup.1] , Stephen Moses[sup.1] , James Frederick Blanchard[sup.1] [...]

Intergenerational differences in inequitable gender attitudes may influence developmental outcomes, including education. In rural Karnataka, India, we examined the extent of intergenerational (adolescent girls [AGs] vs. older generation family members) dis/agreement to attitudes around gendered power inequities, including gender roles and violence against women (VAW). Unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression examined associations between intergenerational dis/agreement to attitude statements and AGs' future educational and career aspirations. Of 2,457 AGs, 90.9% had a matched family member (55% mothers). While traditional gender roles were promoted intergenerationally, more AGs supported VAW than family members. In adjusted models, discordant promotion of traditional gender roles and concordant disapproval of VAW were associated with greater aspirations. Results highlight the need for family-level programming promoting positive modeling of gender-equitable attitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study of 300 secondary students in Lagos State (Nigeria) evaluated Speak Out television. Found that an instructional television enhances the teaching-learning process, that students viewing educational television demonstrated greater participation and interest, and that the location of the community (urban versus rural) in which children attend school influences performance. (PEN)