The Open AIDS JournalPub Date : 2017-04-26eCollection Date: 2017-01-01DOI: 10.2174/1874613601711010032
Mehwish Younas, Christina Psomas, Vikram Mehraj, Renaud Cezar, Pierre Portales, Edouard Tuaillon, Adeline Guigues, Jacques Reynes, Pierre Corbeau, Jean-Pierre Routy
{"title":"Plasma Level of Soluble ST2 in Chronically Infected HIV-1 Patients with Suppressed Viremia.","authors":"Mehwish Younas, Christina Psomas, Vikram Mehraj, Renaud Cezar, Pierre Portales, Edouard Tuaillon, Adeline Guigues, Jacques Reynes, Pierre Corbeau, Jean-Pierre Routy","doi":"10.2174/1874613601711010032","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/1874613601711010032","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Interleukin-33 (IL-33) is a cell damage-induced alarmin. The plasma concentration of suppression of tumorogenicity (sST2), a surrogate marker of IL-33 production, is a prognostic marker of cardiovascular disease.</p><p><strong>Observation: </strong>Recently, we reported that sST2 plasma levels were elevated in early HIV-1 infection and linked to markers of microbial translocation and of T cell activation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Here we show that it is not the case in patients with suppressed viremia. Thus, IL-33 plays its alarmin role only during the early phase of the infection.</p>","PeriodicalId":515834,"journal":{"name":"The Open AIDS Journal","volume":"11 ","pages":"32-35"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-04-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5427803/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"35035155","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}
The Open AIDS JournalPub Date : 2017-03-31eCollection Date: 2017-01-01DOI: 10.2174/1874613601711010012
Boushab Mohamed Boushab, Fatim-Zahra Fall-Malick, Mohamed Limame Ould Cheikh Melaïnine, Leonardo Kishi Basco
{"title":"Forms of Stigma and Discrimination in the Daily Lives of HIV-Positive Individuals in Mauritania.","authors":"Boushab Mohamed Boushab, Fatim-Zahra Fall-Malick, Mohamed Limame Ould Cheikh Melaïnine, Leonardo Kishi Basco","doi":"10.2174/1874613601711010012","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/1874613601711010012","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Summary: </strong>People living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) are often discriminated against in their daily lives. The objective of this descriptive and transversal study was to describe the experiences of PLWHA followed at a specialized outpatient center in Nouakchott to assess the forms of stigma from the perspective of those who suffer from discrimination.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>All HIV-positive patients over the age of 18 years who were aware of their HIV status and provided consent to participate in the study were included from June 1 to 29, 2015. Data collection was conducted using a pre-tested questionnaire.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 210 PLWHA were interviewed. Men accounted for 54% of the sample population with a sex ratio of 1.2. About half of respondents were married (51%) and resided in Nouakchott (55%). Subjects who had never attended school represented 42% of the cases. Among our respondents, 64% knew their HIV status for over a year and admitted that they refused to reveal this information to any person. The distribution of forms of stigma experienced by PLWHA by demographic category was, in descending order, stigma in interpersonal relationships (78%), self-stigma (20%), and stigma in health services (2%). There was a significant association between the form of stigma and marital status (p = 0.007) and between the form of stigma and knowledge of HIV status for a period greater than one year (p = 0.02).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The forms of stigma can be sources of discrimination and are a major obstacle to reintegration and support of PLWHA. This creates a vicious circle that, on the one hand, leads to the suffering, marginalization, and isolation of PLWHA, and on the other hand, has deleterious effects on their family and social relationships, self-esteem and self-confidence.</p>","PeriodicalId":515834,"journal":{"name":"The Open AIDS Journal","volume":"11 ","pages":"12-17"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5418921/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"35048006","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}
The Open AIDS JournalPub Date : 2016-06-15eCollection Date: 2016-01-01DOI: 10.2174/1874613601610010127
Debra L Karch, Kristen Mahle Gray, Jing Shi, H Irene Hall
{"title":"HIV Infection Care and Viral Suppression Among People Who Inject Drugs, 28 U.S. Jurisdictions, 2012-2013.","authors":"Debra L Karch, Kristen Mahle Gray, Jing Shi, H Irene Hall","doi":"10.2174/1874613601610010127","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/1874613601610010127","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Assess outcomes along the care continuum for HIV-infected people who inject drugs (PWID), by type of facility and stage of infection at diagnosis.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data reported by 28 jurisdictions to the National HIV Surveillance System by December 2014 were used to identify PWID aged ≥13 years, diagnosed with HIV infection before December 31, 2013. Analyses used the CDC definition of linkage to care (LTC), retention in care (RIC), and viral suppression (VS), and are stratified by age, sex, race/ethnicity, and type of facility and stage of HIV infection at diagnosis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 1,409 PWID diagnosed with HIV in 2013, 1,116 (79.2%) were LTC with the lowest percentages among males (78.4%); blacks (77.5%) ages 13-24 years (69.0%); those diagnosed in early stage infection (71.6%); and at screening, diagnostic, or referral agencies (60.0%). Of 80,958 PWID living with HIV in 2012, 40,234 (49.7%) were RIC and 34,665 (42.8%) achieved VS. The lowest percentages for RIC and VS were among males (47.1% and 41.3% respectively); those diagnosed with late stage disease (47.1% and 42.4%); and young people. Whites had the lowest RIC (47.0%) while blacks had the lowest VS (41.1%).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Enhanced LTC activities are needed for PWID diagnosed at screening, diagnostic or referral agencies versus those diagnosed at inpatient or outpatient settings, especially among young people and blacks diagnosed in early stage infection. Less than half of PWID are retained in care or reach viral suppression indicating the need for continued engagement and return to care activities over the long term.</p>","PeriodicalId":515834,"journal":{"name":"The Open AIDS Journal","volume":"10 ","pages":"127-35"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2016-06-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/d0/bb/TOAIDJ-10-127.PMC4911421.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"34545872","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}
The Open AIDS JournalPub Date : 2016-06-06eCollection Date: 2016-01-01DOI: 10.2174/1874613601610010113
Daniel B Chastain, Travis S King, Kayla R Stover
{"title":"Infectious and Non-infectious Etiologies of Cardiovascular Disease in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection.","authors":"Daniel B Chastain, Travis S King, Kayla R Stover","doi":"10.2174/1874613601610010113","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/1874613601610010113","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Increasing rates of HIV have been observed in women, African Americans, and Hispanics, particularly those residing in rural areas of the United States. Although cardiovascular (CV) complications in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have significantly decreased following the introduction of antiretroviral therapy on a global scale, in many rural areas, residents face geographic, social, and cultural barriers that result in decreased access to care. Despite the advancements to combat the disease, many patients in these medically underserved areas are not linked to care, and fewer than half achieve viral suppression.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Databases were systematically searched for peer-reviewed publications reporting infectious and non-infectious etiologies of cardiovascular disease in HIV-infected patients. Relevant articles cited in the retrieved publications were also reviewed for inclusion.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A variety of outcomes studies and literature reviews were included in the analysis. Relevant literature discussed the manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of infectious and non-infectious etiologies of cardiovascular disease in HIV-infected patients.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In these medically underserved areas, it is vital that clinicians are knowledgeable in the manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of CV complications in patients with untreated HIV. This review summarizes the epidemiology and causes of CV complications associated with untreated HIV and provide recommendations for management of these complications.</p>","PeriodicalId":515834,"journal":{"name":"The Open AIDS Journal","volume":"10 ","pages":"113-26"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2016-06-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/f7/29/TOAIDJ-10-113.PMC4994107.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"34354162","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}
The Open AIDS JournalPub Date : 2016-05-30eCollection Date: 2016-01-01DOI: 10.2174/1874613601610010104
Minsoo Jung
{"title":"Partnering Patterns and Sexual Behavior Among Korean Men Who Have Sex With Men.","authors":"Minsoo Jung","doi":"10.2174/1874613601610010104","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/1874613601610010104","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This qualitative study investigates the different methods for selecting sex partners by Korean homosexuals considering factors related to homosexual identity and sexual behavior. We take the approach of the grounded theory to examine the issue of sexual partnering of men who have sex with men (MSM). In-depth interviews of urban MSM and bisexual men were conducted. The snowball sampled through a MSM portal web site. Three key informants from the several areas were collected through a MSM portal website, and then, participants were gradually recruited with the snowball samplings in South Korea, 2011 (n=32). The results of coding the interviews based on the grounded theory approach identified three types of partnering: 1) MSM who do not prefer anal intercourse, but pursue safe sex in long-term relationships with fixed partners; 2) those who have fixed partners and perform anal sex, a category into which both MSM and bisexuals fall; and 3) those engaged in anal sex, but enjoy a concurrent sexual relationship without having fixed partners, which was common among bisexuals. The findings from this study elucidate several MSM and bisexual partnering types practice safe sex. This diversity in MSM partnering may increase the vulnerability of some MSM to HIV infection as safe-sex practices remain a matter of individual choice. Changes in Korean societal policies are necessary to enhance capacity building and encourage the practice of safe sex at the community level. </p>","PeriodicalId":515834,"journal":{"name":"The Open AIDS Journal","volume":"10 ","pages":"104-12"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2016-05-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/02/82/TOAIDJ-10-104.PMC4893685.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"34677929","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}
The Open AIDS JournalPub Date : 2016-05-09eCollection Date: 2016-01-01DOI: 10.2174/1874613601610010083
Eric Houston, Thomas Lyons, Brenda Wolfe, Norma Rolfsen, Maryanne Williams, Monique Rucker, Nancy Glick
{"title":"Assessing Implicit Cognition Among Patients Lost to Follow-up for HIV Care: A Preliminary Study.","authors":"Eric Houston, Thomas Lyons, Brenda Wolfe, Norma Rolfsen, Maryanne Williams, Monique Rucker, Nancy Glick","doi":"10.2174/1874613601610010083","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/1874613601610010083","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>While a growing body of research indicates that implicit cognitive processes play an important role in a range of health behaviors, the assessment of these impulsive, associative mental processes among patients living with HIV has received little attention. This preliminary study explored how multidimensional scaling (MDS) could be used to assess implicit cognitive processes among patients lost to follow-up for HIV care and develop interventions to improve their engagement.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>The sample consisted of 33 patients who were identified as lost to follow up for HIV care at two urban hospitals. Participants were randomly assigned to either the MDS assessment program or control group. All participants underwent measures designed to gauge behavioral change intentions and treatment motivation. Assessment group participants were interviewed to determine their reactions to the assessment program.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The MDS assessment program identified cognitive processes and their relationship to treatment-related behaviors among assessment group participants. Assessment group participants reported significantly greater behavior change intentions than those in the control group (p =.02; Cohen's d = 0.84).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>MDS shows promise as a tool to identify implicit cognitive processes related to treatment-related behaviors. Assessments based on MDS could serve as the basis for patient-centered clinical interventions designed to improve treatment adherence and HIV care engagement in general.</p>","PeriodicalId":515834,"journal":{"name":"The Open AIDS Journal","volume":"10 ","pages":"83-92"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2016-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/9b/5a/TOAIDJ-10-83.PMC4893623.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"34677928","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}
The Open AIDS JournalPub Date : 2016-04-08eCollection Date: 2016-01-01DOI: 10.2174/1874613601610010065
Nana K Poku
{"title":"HIV Prevention: The Key to Ending AIDS by 2030.","authors":"Nana K Poku","doi":"10.2174/1874613601610010065","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/1874613601610010065","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>There is no viable substitute for re-energizing, funding and supporting culturally attuned, locally staffed HIV advocacy and prevention programmes, especially in resource poor settings. The evidence that such interventions are effective remains compelling; and although the cost implications are not negligible, the medium to long-term outcomes must be regarded not as complementary, but as integral, to biomedical interventions. The success of the anti-retroviral drugs upscale has enabled a noticeable improvement in AIDS related morbidity and mortality in the recent years; yet the underlying dynamics of the epidemic remains undetermined by the rate at which new infections are taking place in relation to the number of AIDS deaths. While the rate of new HIV infections is stabilising in some of the hardest hit countries, it remains far too high and the future cost of maintaining an ever-expanding pool of people reliant on daily drugs for survival is unsustainable. Countries must exercise caution in continuing to focus on treatment as a 'quick fix' to end AIDS as a public health concern. HIV is a socially culturally induced crisis and, as such, a variety of measures are needed simultaneously to appeal to different people, groups and circumstances. </p>","PeriodicalId":515834,"journal":{"name":"The Open AIDS Journal","volume":"10 ","pages":"65-77"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2016-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/10/1a/TOAIDJ-10-65.PMC4893686.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"34677926","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}
The Open AIDS JournalPub Date : 2016-04-08eCollection Date: 2016-01-01DOI: 10.2174/1874613601610010014
Oscar O Simooya
{"title":"Editorial: HIV Infection and AIDS in Africa - Issues, Lessons Learnt and Next Steps.","authors":"Oscar O Simooya","doi":"10.2174/1874613601610010014","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/1874613601610010014","url":null,"abstract":"Towards the end of the 1980s, and in the midst of a great public health challenge that appeared to threaten the whole existence of mankind, predictions of an apocalyptic end to the human race were being debated as the global family faced unprecedented and widespread deaths from the HIV and AIDS epidemic. The African continent which has borne the largest burden of people living with HIV infection was in particular severely affected by the epidemic and has since lost generations of its people from an epidemic that took advantage of its resource limited health systems which were unable to cope with the effects of HIV and AIDS. \u0000 \u0000However, today some thirty years or so later, the gloom and fear that characterized the early days of the epidemic has been replaced by a renewed hope that the worst part of the epidemic is over and there is even guarded optimism that the epidemic could be over by the year 2030. Although it can be said that the discovery of highly active anti retroviral treatments (HAART) in the mid 1990s and their subsequent roll out has brought about dramatic changes in the well being of people with HIV infection, it is equally true that a wide variety of prevention and coping strategies developed in response to the epidemic have equally played an important part in mitigating the impact of HIV infection. \u0000 \u0000This special issue of The Open AIDS Journal looks at the response to HIV and AIDS in Africa and focuses on issues and lessons learnt as the continent aspires to maintain the momentum against the epidemic. \u0000 \u0000Kasonde Bowa and colleagues from the Copperbelt University in Kitwe, Zambia look at the impact of HIV on the practice of surgery in Africa. They report that HIV has affected surgical pathologies, patient care, and more recently prevention strategies. The surgical patient is more likely to be HIV positive in Africa, than elsewhere in the world. The patients are also more likely to have co infection with Hepatitis B or C and are unlikely to be aware of their HIV status thus increasing the occupational risk for the surgeon. Extra care is therefore required when preparing a patient for theatre. More recently and in an ironic change of roles, surgery has impacted HIV prevention through the role of male circumcision as a significant tool in HIV prevention, which has traditionally focused on behavioral interventions. \u0000 \u0000Of the estimated 6000 new infections that still occur globally each day, two out of the three are in sub-Saharan Africa with young women continuing to bear a disproportionate burden. Adolescent girls and young women aged 15-24 years have up to eight fold higher rates of HIV infection compared to their male peers. Kharsany and Quarraisha Abdool Karim from the Nelson Mandela School of Medicine in South Africa reflect on the large gap in women initiated HIV prevention technologies especially for women who are unable to negotiate the current HIV prevention options of abstinence, behavior change, condoms and medical male circum","PeriodicalId":515834,"journal":{"name":"The Open AIDS Journal","volume":"10 ","pages":"14-5"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2016-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/76/3a/TOAIDJ-10-14.PMC4893501.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"34613935","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}
The Open AIDS JournalPub Date : 2016-04-08eCollection Date: 2016-01-01DOI: 10.2174/1874613601610010078
Engetani Nkuna, Norman Z Nyazema
{"title":"HIV Self-Testing, Self-Stigma and Haart Treatment at the University of Limpopo: Health Sciences Students' Opinion and Perspectives.","authors":"Engetani Nkuna, Norman Z Nyazema","doi":"10.2174/1874613601610010078","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/1874613601610010078","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>HIV self-testing (HIVST) is an empowering process in which an individual performs an HIV rapid diagnostic test and interprets the result in privacy. Policy makers have turned to it to facilitate greater uptake, earlier diagnosis, access to prevention, care and treatment services. The University of Limpopo now has an established HIV counselling and testing (HCT) service. Unfortunately, the uptake of this HCT service by the student body is not encouraging. It was against this background that a study was carried out among health sciences students, to assess the potential of HIVST to increase access to and uptake of HIV testing on campus. Information was gathered through focus group discussions and the social media Whatspp, among 300 health sciences students, to provide a 'yes' or 'no' response to an enquiry, about HIVST and the pregnancy test. One on one discussion on the same issues was also held with the staff at the student Health Centre which now stocks ARVs. About 51% of the students, the majority being females indicated that they would go for the HIVST. Students' opinion and perspectives appeared to suggest that there was a potential for the HIVST to increase uptake for HIV testing. </p>","PeriodicalId":515834,"journal":{"name":"The Open AIDS Journal","volume":"10 ","pages":"78-82"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2016-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/80/25/TOAIDJ-10-78.PMC4893625.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"34677927","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}
The Open AIDS JournalPub Date : 2016-04-08eCollection Date: 2016-01-01DOI: 10.2174/1874613601610010016
K Bowa, B Kawimbe, D Mugala, D Musowoya, A Makupe, M Njobvu, C Simutowe
{"title":"A Review of HIV and Surgery in Africa.","authors":"K Bowa, B Kawimbe, D Mugala, D Musowoya, A Makupe, M Njobvu, C Simutowe","doi":"10.2174/1874613601610010016","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/1874613601610010016","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>HIV has a significant impact on surgery in Africa. Its' influence has spanned a period of about 30 years. In the 1980s' Africa experienced a rise in the national prevalence of HIV spreading across East Africa through Southern Africa, and reaching peak prevalence in the Southern African region. These prevalence levels have affected four key areas of surgical practice; namely patient care, practice of surgery, surgical pathologies, the practitioner and more recently prevention. The surgical patient is more likely to be HIV positive in Africa, than elsewhere in the world. The patients are also more likely to have co infection with Hepatitis C or B and are unlikely to be aware of his or her HIV status. Surgical patients are also more likely to have impaired liver and renal function at the time of presentation. Therefore, HIV has affected the pattern of surgical pathologies, by influencing disease presentation, diagnosis, management and outcomes. It has also influenced the surgeon by increasing occupational risk and management of that risk. Recently in an ironic change of roles, surgery has impacted HIV prevention through the role of male circumcision as a significant tool in HIV prevention, which has traditionally focused on behavioural interventions. The story of surgery and HIV continues to unfold on the continent. Ultimately presenting a challenge which requires innovation, dedication and hard work in the already resource limited environments of Africa. </p>","PeriodicalId":515834,"journal":{"name":"The Open AIDS Journal","volume":"10 ","pages":"16-23"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2016-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/8e/f9/TOAIDJ-10-16.PMC4893540.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"34613936","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}