Charles Peter Osingada, Monica Okuga, Rose Chalo Nabirye, Nelson Kaulukusi Sewankambo, Damalie Nakanjako
{"title":"Disclosure of Parental HIV Status to Children: Experiences of Adults Receiving Antiretroviral Treatment at an Urban Clinic in Kampala, Uganda.","authors":"Charles Peter Osingada, Monica Okuga, Rose Chalo Nabirye, Nelson Kaulukusi Sewankambo, Damalie Nakanjako","doi":"10.1155/2017/3458684","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2017/3458684","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Limited data are available on the experiences of parental HIV disclosure to children in Uganda. We conducted a qualitative study comprising sixteen in-depth interviews and four focus group discussions with parents receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy. Analysis was done using Atlas.ti qualitative research software. Back-and-forth triangulation was done between transcripts of the in-depth interviews and focus group discussions, and themes and subthemes were developed. Barriers to parents' disclosure included perceptions that children are too young to understand what HIV infection means and fears of secondary disclosure by the children. Immediate outcomes of disclosure included children getting scared and crying, although such instances often gave way to more enduring positive experiences for the parents, such as support in adherence to medical care, help in household chores, and a decrease in financial demands from the children. Country-specific interventions are needed to improve the process of parental HIV disclosure to children and this should encompass preparation on how to deal with the immediate psychological challenges associated with the parent's disclosure.</p>","PeriodicalId":46303,"journal":{"name":"AIDS Research and Treatment","volume":"2017 ","pages":"3458684"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2017-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5676343/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"35619803","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Clifford O Odimegwu, Joshua O Akinyemi, Olatunji O Alabi
{"title":"HIV-Stigma in Nigeria: Review of Research Studies, Policies, and Programmes.","authors":"Clifford O Odimegwu, Joshua O Akinyemi, Olatunji O Alabi","doi":"10.1155/2017/5812650","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2017/5812650","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Nigeria has about 3.8 million people living with HIV, the second largest globally. Stigma and discrimination are major barriers to testing, treatment uptake, and adherence. In this review, we synthesized information on research studies, policies, and programmes related to HIV-stigma in Nigeria. This was with a view to identify critical areas that research and programmes must address in order to accelerate the progress towards zero (new infections, discrimination, and death) target by year 2030. Existing studies were mostly devoted to stigma assessment using varieties of measures. Research, policies, and programmes in the past two decades have made very useful contributions to stigma reduction. We identified the need for a consistent, valid, and objective measure of stigma at different levels of the HIV response. Nigeria does not lack relevant policies; what needs to be strengthened are design, planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of context-specific stigma reduction programmes.</p>","PeriodicalId":46303,"journal":{"name":"AIDS Research and Treatment","volume":"2017 ","pages":"5812650"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2017-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5763061/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"35831977","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
George Gachara, Lufuno G Mavhandu, Elizabeth T Rogawski, Cecile Manhaeve, Pascal O Bessong
{"title":"Evaluating Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy Using Pharmacy Refill Records in a Rural Treatment Site in South Africa.","authors":"George Gachara, Lufuno G Mavhandu, Elizabeth T Rogawski, Cecile Manhaeve, Pascal O Bessong","doi":"10.1155/2017/5456219","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/5456219","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Optimal adherence to combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) is critical to maintain virologic suppression, thereby ensuring the global success of HIV treatment. We evaluated adherence to cART using pharmacy refill records and determined the adherence threshold resulting in >90% virologic suppression in a community run treatment site in South Africa. Additionally, we analysed factors associated with adherence using univariable and multivariable logistic regression models. Logistic regression was also performed to determine the relationship between adherence and virologic suppression and the adherence threshold resulting in <10% virologic failure. The overall median (interquartile range) adherence was 95% (88.6-98.4%). Out of the study participants, 210/401 (52.4%) had optimal (≥95%) adherence while only 37/401 (9.2%) had poor (≤80%) adherence. The majority (90.5%) of patients with optimal adherence had virologic suppression. Having TB at registration into care was found to be negatively associated with adherence (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.382; <i>p</i> ≤ .05). Compared to nonadherent individuals, optimally adherent participants were more likely to achieve virologic suppression (OR 2.92; 95% CI: 1.63-5.22). Only adherence rates above 95% were observed to lead to <10% virologic failure. cART adherence measured by pharmacy refill records could serve as a useful predictor of virologic failure; adherence rates >95% are needed to maintain optimal virologic suppression.</p>","PeriodicalId":46303,"journal":{"name":"AIDS Research and Treatment","volume":"2017 ","pages":"5456219"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2017-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1155/2017/5456219","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"34779290","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Marina Njelekela, Rose Mpembeni, Alfa Muhihi, Nzovu Ulenga, Eric Aris, Deodatus Kakoko
{"title":"Lipodystrophy among HIV-Infected Patients Attending Care and Treatment Clinics in Dar es Salaam.","authors":"Marina Njelekela, Rose Mpembeni, Alfa Muhihi, Nzovu Ulenga, Eric Aris, Deodatus Kakoko","doi":"10.1155/2017/3896539","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/3896539","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>HIV infection and long-term HAART use are associated with metabolic and morphological changes. We assessed prevalence, types, and risk factors associated with lipodystrophy among HIV-infected adults attending CTC in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Analysis included 466 HIV-infected patients. Study protocol involved administration of structured questionnaire to collect sociodemographic and clinical information. Diagnosis of lipodystrophy was based on physician clinical assessment.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Lipodystrophy was present in 95 (20.4%) of the study participants, with lipoatrophy being the most common (49.5%) followed by mixed lipodystrophy (37.9%), and lipohypertrophy was the least prevalent (12.6%). Male gender, older age, long duration on HAART, and use of Stavudine containing regimen were associated with lipodystrophy (all <i>p</i> < 0.05). The risk for lipodystrophy was 1.6 times (AOR = 1.66, 95% CI = 1.01-2.72) for male participants and 13.3 times (AOR = 13.3, 95% CI = 6.4-27.7) for those on HAART. Long duration on HAART and use of Stavudine containing regimen were also associated with increased risk for lipodystrophy. Lipodystrophy was associated with poor perception about own body image and decreased social interactions.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Lipodystrophy is common among HIV-infected patients in Tanzania, especially among male patients and those on HAART. Regular screening, monitoring, and patient awareness are needed for early identification and appropriate management.</p>","PeriodicalId":46303,"journal":{"name":"AIDS Research and Treatment","volume":"2017 ","pages":"3896539"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2017-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1155/2017/3896539","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"35571007","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A Critical Review of the Evidence Concerning the HIV Latency Reversing Effect of Disulfiram, the Possible Explanations for Its Inability to Reduce the Size of the Latent Reservoir In Vivo, and the Caveats Associated with Its Use in Practice.","authors":"Harry D J Knights","doi":"10.1155/2017/8239428","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/8239428","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) effectively suppresses the replication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), improves immune function, and decreases the morbidity of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). However, it is unable to eradicate the virus because it does not eliminate latently infected cells. The latent reservoir poses the major barrier to an HIV-1 cure. The \"shock and kill\" strategy aims to reactivate the virus and destroy latently infected cells. Many latency reversing agents (LRAs) reactivate HIV in vitro, but the absence of damaging side-effects and efficacy in vivo make disulfiram particularly promising. However, in clinical trials to date, disulfiram treatment has not resulted in a reduction in the size of the latent reservoir. In this article I will therefore discuss the evidence for the latency reversing effect of disulfiram, the possible explanations for its inability to reduce the size of the latent reservoir in vivo, and the caveats associated with its use in practice. These considerations will help to inform judgements about the prospect of an HIV cure from disulfiram based treatments.</p>","PeriodicalId":46303,"journal":{"name":"AIDS Research and Treatment","volume":"2017 ","pages":"8239428"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2017-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1155/2017/8239428","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"34961795","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Male Partners Involvement in Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV Services in Southern Central Ethiopia: In Case of Lemo District, Hadiya Zone.","authors":"Degefa Tadele Belato, Abera Beyamo Mekiso, Bayu Begashaw","doi":"10.1155/2017/8617540","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2017/8617540","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Male partners' involvement is a vital issue to prevent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission from mother to child; because it is much expectable that women were more vulnerable and high risk group of population portion. Therefore, to save lives of mothers and their newborn from acquiring HIV, male partners should do their maximum endeavor regardless of any determinant factors as our results revealed its status in our study context and elsewhere at past time too.</p>","PeriodicalId":46303,"journal":{"name":"AIDS Research and Treatment","volume":"2017 ","pages":"8617540"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2017-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5376926/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"34912140","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Joseph DeRose, Jason Zucker, David Cennimo, Shobha Swaminathan
{"title":"Missed Testing Opportunities for HIV Screening and Early Diagnosis in an Urban Tertiary Care Center.","authors":"Joseph DeRose, Jason Zucker, David Cennimo, Shobha Swaminathan","doi":"10.1155/2017/5708620","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2017/5708620","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Newark, New Jersey, is disproportionally affected by HIV with one of the highest prevalence rates in the United States. Rutgers New Jersey Medical School is a major healthcare provider to Newark's underserved population and has implemented a HIV testing program that can diagnose and link newly diagnosed individuals to care. We conducted a retrospective chart review of all new patients seen in the Infectious Disease Practice from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2014, to determine the proportion of patients with a missed testing opportunity (MTO) (patients with a new HIV diagnosis with an encounter at the institution in the 1 year prior to their first appointment). 117 newly diagnosed patients were identified. 36 (31%) had at least one MTO. A total of 34 (29%) of newly diagnosed patients had AIDS at presentation and 17% had CD4 counts of 50 cells/<i>μ</i>L (<i>p</i> value 0.5). The two most common locations of a missed testing opportunity were the hospital ED (45%) and subspecialty clinics (37%). This study demonstrates that, even in a high prevalence institution with HIV counseling, testing, and referral service, HIV screening is lacking at multiple points of care and patients are missing opportunities for earlier diagnosis and treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":46303,"journal":{"name":"AIDS Research and Treatment","volume":"2017 ","pages":"5708620"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2017-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5514340/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"35199151","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Grant Munkwase, Kuteesa R Bisaso, Othman Kakaire, Sarah Nanzigu
{"title":"Effect of Efavirenz on Endogenous Progesterone Concentrations and Contraceptive Outcomes among Ugandan HIV Infected Women Coadministering Ethinylestradiol/Levonorgestrel.","authors":"Grant Munkwase, Kuteesa R Bisaso, Othman Kakaire, Sarah Nanzigu","doi":"10.1155/2017/6531709","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2017/6531709","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study assessed the effect of efavirenz mid-dose plasma concentrations on mid-luteal endogenous progesterone concentrations and contraceptive outcomes among 49 HIV infected women coadministering ethinylestradiol/levonorgestrel, including 34 HIV positive women on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) and 15 HAART naïve HIV infected women, purposively selected from Mulago Hospital, Uganda. A blood sample was collected once between days 20 and 22 of each woman's menstrual cycle for measuring endogenous progesterone and efavirenz concentrations by electrochemiluminescence technology and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), respectively. Descriptive statistical analysis and correlation and logistic regression analysis were done using SPSS v.21 and R3.1. Efavirenz showed a weak positive linear relationship with endogenous progesterone at efavirenz concentrations below 12 <i>μ</i>g/ml. Based on serum endogenous progesterone, the observed hormonal contraceptives failure rate (24.5%) was higher than expected (maximum 8%). A higher proportion of HIV positive women on efavirenz based HAART (26.5%) was at risk of contraceptive failure than their HIV infected HAART naïve counterparts (20%) though it was not statistically significant (<i>p</i> = 0.63). Efavirenz mid-dose plasma concentrations seem to have no significant effect on mid-luteal endogenous progesterone concentrations and contraceptive outcomes among HIV infected Ugandan women coadministering ethinylestradiol/levonorgestrel oral pills.</p>","PeriodicalId":46303,"journal":{"name":"AIDS Research and Treatment","volume":"2017 ","pages":"6531709"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2017-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5555015/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"35341484","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Bonaventura C T Mpondo, Daniel W Gunda, Semvua B Kilonzo
{"title":"HIV Epidemic in Tanzania: The Possible Role of the Key Populations.","authors":"Bonaventura C T Mpondo, Daniel W Gunda, Semvua B Kilonzo","doi":"10.1155/2017/7089150","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/7089150","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>HIV remains a public health concern in Tanzania and other Eastern and Southern African countries. Estimates show that there were about 1.4 million people living with HIV in Tanzania in the year 2013. HIV is a generalized epidemic in Tanzania with heterosexual transmission being the main route of transmission. Recently, however, there has been growing concern on the potential role of the key populations in HIV epidemic in the country. Studies done have shown significantly higher HIV prevalence in these populations compared to the general population. These studies have also reported high risky behaviors among members of these populations. This review aims at discussing the possible role of the key populations in the HIV epidemic in Tanzania.</p>","PeriodicalId":46303,"journal":{"name":"AIDS Research and Treatment","volume":"2017 ","pages":"7089150"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2017-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1155/2017/7089150","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"35387977","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Bismark Sarfo, Naa Ashiley Vanderpuye, Abigail Addison, Peter Nyasulu
{"title":"HIV Case Management Support Service Is Associated with Improved CD4 Counts of Patients Receiving Care at the Antiretroviral Clinic of Pantang Hospital, Ghana.","authors":"Bismark Sarfo, Naa Ashiley Vanderpuye, Abigail Addison, Peter Nyasulu","doi":"10.1155/2017/4697473","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2017/4697473","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Factors associated with individual patient-level management of HIV have received minimal attention in sub-Saharan Africa. This study determined the association between support services and cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) counts among HIV patients attending ART clinic in Ghana.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>This was a cross-sectional study involving adults with HIV recruited between 1 August 2014 and 31 January 2015. Data on support services were obtained through a closed-ended personal interview while the CD4 counts data were collected from their medical records. Data were entered into EpiData and analyzed using Stata software.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 201 patients who participated in the study, 67% (129/191) received case management support service. Counseling about how to prevent the spread of HIV (crude odds ratio (cOR) (95% confidence interval (CI)) (2.79 (1.17-6.68)), mental health services (0.2 (0.04-1.00)), and case management support service (2.80 (1.34-5.82))) was associated with improved CD4 counts of 350 cells/mm<sup>3</sup> or more. After adjusting for counseling about how to prevent the spread of HIV and mental health services, case management support service was significantly associated with CD4 counts of 350 cells/mm<sup>3</sup> or more (aOR = 2.36 (CI = 1.01-5.49)).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Case management support service for HIV patients receiving ART improves their CD4 counts above 350 cells/mm<sup>3</sup>. Incorporating HIV case management services in ART regimen should be a priority in sub-Saharan Africa.</p>","PeriodicalId":46303,"journal":{"name":"AIDS Research and Treatment","volume":"2017 ","pages":"4697473"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2017-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5632479/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"35556245","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}