Objective: To describe dietary habits in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Design and Methods: Food frequency questionnaires were administered to female-household-heads of 144 households randomly selected from three islands ' voter's lists (Grand Turk [n = 48], Providenciales [n = 46] and Middle Caicos [n = 50]). Data were collected on the distribution of:(a) Households among Levels 0 -7 of a Food Group Scale, developed using the Cornell Technique of Scaling Dichotomous Data, and based on number of households that consumed seven food groups (meat and legumes, bread/cereals, fruits, vegetables, starchy roots/tubers/fruits; dairy and beverages) weekly; (b) Foods among four categories (common core, island core, occasional or rare) also based on weekly frequency of consumption. Results: Thirty per cent of households on Grand Turk and 37% on Providenciales were at level 7, the most varied and complex diets, compared to 3% for Middle Caicos, which exemplified the indigenous diet of local seafood, beans, and grits (corn) supplemented with imports eg rice and bread/flour. Middle Caicos had substantially fewer island core foods ([n = 16] from four food groups) than did Grand Turk (n = 29) and Providenciales (n = 30), which represented the 7-food groups and included 15 (94%) of Middle Caicos' island core foods. Conclusion: Providenciales and Grand Turk had more varied and complex diets. Understanding how various islands supplement the indigenous/traditional diet is imperative to develop and evaluate (a) island-specific nutrition intervention eg culturally appropriate nutrition education messages (eg to increase iron consumption); and (b) future research protocols.

ABSTRACT

Poster presentations to rectal mucosa in the receptive partner provides opportunity for the transmission of HIV/STI. The risk is more if the receptive partner is female. The aim of this study was to observe the prevalence and associated factors associated with anal sex practises among female sex workers (FSWs) in the western part of Assam, India. Methods All total 64 FSWs were interviewed with a questionnaire to collect information regarding the respondents' knowledge and their practises related to anal sex as well as related socioeconomic factors. Results 61 FSWs (95.3%) reported having ever engaged in anal sex. 75% FSWs (48 cases) were aware of HIV/AIDS. Only 10.9% FSWs (seven cases) were aware of the fact that unprotected anal sex has the higher risk of HIV transmission. Conclusion This study showed the practise of anal sex is quite common among FSWs, but their perception of HIV transmission risk associated with anal sex is very low. This is an alarming situation. It is important for HIV prevention programmes to focus not only on vaginal sex but also on risk associated with anal sex. Child Marriage and Sexually TranSMiTTed infeCTionS: iMPliCaTionS for hiV PreVenTion aMong young MoTherS in adaMawa STaTe nigeria