Microbial isolates and HIV infection in couples attending fertility clinics in Sagamu, Nigeria.

This observational study was designed to determine the prevalence of HIV infection and the microbial isolates from the genital tracts of couples attending the fertility clinics of Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria between January 2001 and December 2002. A total of 110 women and 49 of their male partners were recruited into the study. The majority of the patients were between 25 and 34 years (women: 71.8%; partners: 65.3%), though the men were significantly older than the women (p < 0.001). The overall prevalence of HIV infection in those who consented to screening was 8.2%, which was over twice the reported prevalence among the general population in Ogun State, Nigeria during the study period. Candida albicans (32.5%) and Staphylococcus aureus (27.5%) were the most frequently isolated microorganisms from the endocervix while Trichomonas vaginalis (37.9%) and Staphylococcus aureus (24.1%) were the most common microbes isolated from the posterior vaginal fornix. Of all the seminal qualities, only the volume showed a significant difference between the infected and non-infected samples (p < 0.004). This study suggests a higher prevalence of HIV infection among the infertile couples in our environment and it may be advisable to have them screened for HIV in the face of the present HIV situation in sub-Saharan Africa.     

The structure and correlates of perfectionism in African American children.

This study examined the structure and symptom correlates of perfectionism in a sample of 6th-grade, urban, African American children using the Child and Adolescent Perfectionism Scale (CAPS; Flett, Hewitt, Boucher, Davidson, & Munro, 2000). Confirmatory factor analysis showed inadequate fit of the original subscales. Exploratory factor analysis suggested 3 dimensions of perfectionism: A Socially Prescribed and a Self-Oriented-Critical factor were described as maladaptive, whereas a Self-Oriented-Striving factor was proposed as adaptive. Cross-sectional correlations among the perfectionism dimensions and symptoms of psychopathology fit well with the adaptive versus maladaptive model. In addition, Socially Prescribed Perfectionism showed a robust predictive relation to 7th-grade internalizing symptoms, especially depression, in boys. Results are discussed in the context of the cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of this African American sample and suggestions for future research are provided.