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This study examines parents’ perceptions of reentry, and sociocultural and economic factors responsible for their perceptions in Cowdray Park, Bulawayo. This follows an amendment to the Education Act prohibiting the expulsion of pregnant girls from school. We employed a parallel mixed methods design and selected 384 parents (who filled out questionnaires) through stratified sampling and 23 parents (who were interviewed) through convenience sampling. Data were analysed using SPSS and NVivo. Findings reflect that 68% (n = 250) of parents hold negative perceptions of reentry. We then established that cultural and religious beliefs and fear of family humiliation were some of the sociocultural factors influencing parents’ perceptions. Moreover, we found that fears of economic loss and the chances of a better future for girls were some of the economic factors influencing parents’ perceptions. We then suggested that community sensitisation and an explicit reentry policy document are needed if parents’ perceptions are to change.

This study examines parents' perceptions of reentry, and sociocultural and economic factors responsible for their perceptions in Cowdray Park, Bulawayo. This follows an amendment to the Education Act prohibiting the expulsion of pregnant girls from school. We employed a parallel mixed methods design and selected 384 parents (who filled out questionnaires) through stratified sampling and 23 parents (who were interviewed) through convenience sampling. Data were analysed using SPSS and NVivo. Findings reflect that 68% (n = 250) of parents hold negative perceptions of reentry. We then established that cultural and religious beliefs and fear of family humiliation were some of the sociocultural factors influencing parents' perceptions. Moreover, we found that fears of economic loss and the chances of a better future for girls were some of the economic factors influencing parents' perceptions. We then suggested that community sensitisation and an explicit reentry policy document are needed if parents' perceptions are to change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Blood donor plasma samples were detected by the Ultrio Plus NAT system for HBV, HCV and HIV-1 in Shenzhen blood center, China. Reactive samples underwent further discriminatory testing of a single virus by the same methodology. A large number of cases of non-discriminated reactive (NDR) donors were found, leaving potential risk of transmitting HBV if not deferrals. This study identified those non-discriminated samples. Methods The NDR plasma samples from blood donation screening were detected and classified by additional molecular and serological tests. Molecular characterizations of DNA+ NDR were determined by sequencing analysis. Results A number of 259 (0.21%) NDR plasma samples from screening of 123,280 eligible blood donors were detected, which presented a higher rate (91.1%) of anti-HBc reactivity and nearly half (46.7%) of HBV DNA+ that classified as occult HBV infection (OBI). Most OBI strains were wild-type HBV, but some substitutions V168A, S174 N, V177A, Q129R/L/H, G145A/R in S region of genotype B (OBIB) and T47K/V/A, P49H/L, Q101R/H/K, S174 N, L175S, V177A, T118 M/R/K, G145R/A/K/E, R160K/N in S region of genotype C (OBIC) strains were identified in high frequency. Conclusion Nearly half of NDR blood samples were identified as OBI, in which a number of important mutations were detected. NDR donation might have potential risk for HBV transmission, but need to be further investigated.