The relationship between HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), food security and nutrition has become increasingly important to practitioners, policy makers and people living with HIV. In this paper we describe for the first time the connection between HIV and antiretroviral therapies, the extent of nutritional counselling for HIV-positive people and food security in Papua New Guinea (PNG). A total of 374 HIV-positive people who were over the age of 16 and who had been on antiretroviral therapy (ART) for more than two weeks were recruited from six provinces, using a non-probability, convenience sampling methodology. A subsample of 36 participants also completed an in-depth qualitative interview. Participants received nutritional advice when beginning ART which focused on three main domains, of which the first two were the most frequently mentioned: what foods to avoid; what foods to eat; and how frequently to eat. 72% of the sample reported that they had experienced an increase in their appetite. Of those who reported that their appetite had increased on ART 33% reported that they did not have enough food to satisfy hunger. People who lived in the capital city, Port Moresby, within the Southern Region of PNG, had significantly more difficulty with food security than those who lived in other regions of the country. Not having enough food was the third most commonly recorded reason for non-adherence to ART. Responses to the HIV epidemic in Papua New Guinea must also begin to address the phenomenon of food insecurity for people with HIV, in particular those who are receiving antiretroviral therapies and who live in the urban areas.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Anti-Retroviral Agents/*therapeutic use ; Appetite/*drug effects ; *Counseling ; Female ; *Food Supply ; HIV Infections/*drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; *Medication Adherence ; Middle Aged ; Papua New Guinea ; Qualitative Research ; Urban Population ; Young Adult

NEED FOR STUDY AND GOAL: There is no data available on pupil’s health with relation to the school environmental condition and organization of educational activities in Mongolia. Therefore, the goal of the study was to assess organization of the educational activities and conduct hygienic assessment of chemical and bacteriological contamination in the school environment.MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1440 children were surveyed in this cross sectional study from the 6 secondary schools of UB city, Uvurhangai and Dornod aimags.Hygiene conditions of school was assessed and organization of educational activities evaluated by class timetable and pupil’s notes of daily regime.RESULT: Timetable of lessons: It was observed that in some cases teachers’ taught to primary pupils Mathematics and Mongolian language for 2 sequential hours, depending on some indexes such as lesson content, capacity and student’s activity. According to timetable of lessons of the secondary schools, pupils have lessons for 32-34 hours in a week. It was revealed that most schools have 2-3 hours more than standard timetable and heavy lessons were taught for 2-3 sequential hours. For the secondary classes, average length of classes was 32-34 hours in a week which indicates 2-3 hours longer timetable. There was no special place for physical training and movement games etc where pupil can do physical exercise, relax and enjoy school life. DAILY REGIME: pupils have been spending most of their time watching TV and listening music and spending few hours to help housework, to read a book and to prepare meal. Urban pupils spent total of 0.5-1 hour for coming to school and going to home but rural pupils spent 20-30 minutes approximately. RESULT OF THE LABORATORY ANALYSIS: The bacteriological analysis of 36 classes in schools showed that before lesson, 94.4% of classes were clean while 5.6% was contaminated in first season of school year. After the lesson, percentage of classes without contamination had been dropped to 88.8% and classes with contamination had been increased to 11.2%. In the 4th season of school year, before lesson 61.6% of classes was clean and 16.6% was contaminated and 22.3% was highly contaminated. Moreover, after the lesson, classes without contamination had been dropped to 27.7% while 72.3% was at high level contamination.CONCLUSION: 1. Time table of lessons and break time management is inadequate in the schools and 32-39.1% of pupils do not follow the daily regime. 2. In the end of day, chemical and bacteriological contamination increased in the classes.

INTRODUSTION: There have been limited research studies done in Mongolia on health status of children in relation to density of children in school classrooms.GOAL: This study aims to evaluate learning ability of children in Mongolia and develop recommendations for next intervention measures.MATERIALS AN METHODS: A total of 1440 children were surveyed in a cross sectional study that included 6 classes from 6 secondary schools of UB city, Uvurhangai and Dornod aimags. The test of letter drawing created by of V.Ya.Anfi mova was used to evaluate the pupil’s learning skills. This test was performed at the fi rst and last classes in each day of which was tested at the beginning (I quarter or September) and end (IV quarter or May) of the academic year.For each tests we accounted the mean of drawing letter, mean of mistake for 500 letter and standard deviation.RESULTS: The results of pupil’s letter drawing tests were compared by quarter for fi rst and last classes in each day. Pupil’s learning ability of class 4 was enough while other classes were not enough (P index 1) on the fi rst and last tests.CONCLUSION: Pupil’s learning ability has been changed by the same way of physiological adaptation process of child.Pupil’s learning ability had been decreased in last tests of each day and on Friday which was revealed by letter drawing test.Pupil’s learning ability of classes between 4 to 9 were not enough on the fi rst term while 4th class was good enough on the forth term (P index 1).