Developing An Improved Heart Rate Monitor With Work-Out Training Android Application And Real Time Audio Coaching

TechnoHeart is a digital way of monitoring heart rate using a Heart Rate Monitor device and an android phone. Moreover, this is made more special through its work-out training which is designed to help users set and achieve their target heart rate and monitor at what training intensity they are during a strenuous exercise. The training is made more interactive as the application has its real-time audio coaching. The need for this application comes from three sources; First, some athletes, non-athletes and even doctors are still using the traditional way of getting the heart rate; Second, training intensity is not monitored and target heart rate is not achieved; Third, most mobile developments do not tailor the need of users who undergo work-out training. With the following needs, objectives were set; First, to connect an HRM (Heart Rate Monitoring) device to an android mobile device and display individual’s heart rate in digital form through mobile; Second, to create a work-out training program using the Karvonen Formula; Third, to enable users know one’s target heart rate by using a Karvonen calculator; Fourth, to notify users in real time with every sudden change and the needed action in order to keep an effective training exercise. The project is to explore this and other similar concepts to develop a design that optimally satisfies all of these objectives. The project addresses all of these objectives while meeting the constraints given. The project was deployed in three different sets of users: The University of Mindanao Athletes, The elderly users aging from 50-80 years old and the other users aging from 12-49 years old. The researchers recommend the use of TechnoHeart for athletes and non-athletes who are aiming for an effective cardiovascular training. And for the next researchers, they can focus on the compatibility of the said application to other mobile platforms like iOS, Blackberry, Windows and etc. And also, they may upload application in the internet such as in social networking sites or any features that would make this project more usable.

Understanding the Barriers to Contraceptive Use in Hiv-Positive Women of Child Bearing Age in Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania

Title: Understanding the barriers to contraceptive use among HIV-positive women of child bearing age in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania- a multi-site study Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the perceived barriers to contraceptive use and identify the factors that influence contraceptive choice, as well as the relationship of these among HIV-positive women living in an urban population in Dar-es-Salaam Tanzania. Goals and Objectives: To determine the perceived barriers to contraceptive use among HIV-positive women of child-bearing age attending the Care Treatment Centres (CTCs) Tanzania and in the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) supported CTCs within Dar-es-salaam. Methodology: In a phenomenological approach the study adopted a cross-sectional study design that utilized qualitative methodology to assess HIV-positive women’s perceptions towards modern methods of contraception (including barrier, hormonal, permanent, and dual protection methods). It was a multi-sited study involving a selection of Management and Development for Health (MDH) supported CTCs whose focus is HIV/AIDS in women and children. The study population included all sexually active women of child bearing age (15-49) confirmed HIV-positive and attending the MDH supported CTC facilities within Dar-es-salaam. The study assumed pragmatic purposive strategic sampling in selecting participants. All participants who meet the inclusion criteria on signage of informed consent were subjected to either In-depth Interviews or Focused Group Discussions. Data collected was transcribed based on emergent themes and analysed using Nvivo 9 qualitative analysis software. During data analysis, stigma was identified as an issue cutting across all other themes. As a result a further analysis of the data was undertaken using Erving Goffman’s Conceptualization of stigma as the analytical framework. Ethical considerations: The study commenced once ethical approval and considerations were met by governing bodies of the Aga Khan University East Africa as well as the National Institute of Medical Research Tanzania. Timeline: The study was carried out from January 2012-April 2014. Results: The study identified eight barriers to contraceptive use: social and healthcare relationships, a woman’s current priorities in particular concerning motherhood, her beliefs about HIV/contraception/menstruation, her stage of acceptance of her HIV diagnosis, her own and other women’s previous experiences with various contraceptive methods, the knowledge she has on them and her access to these methods. Stigma was an underlying issue seen to cut across all these barriers and the subsequent theoretical analysis showed stigma to be a core issue reinforcing all barriers for the HIV-positive woman’s appropriate use of contraception. Conclusion: The