Adherence to antiretroviral therapy: a qualitative study with physicians from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Brazil provides free antiretroviral (ARV) therapy to some 150,000 individuals living with HIV/ AIDS). ARV regimens require optimal adherence to achieve undetectable viral loads and to avoid viral resistance. Physicians play a key role to foster ARV adherence, but until now little is known about the communication between physicians/ people living with HIV/AIDS in this setting. In-depth interviews were conducted with 40 physicians treating people living with HIV/AIDS at six public reference centers in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Interview topics included: experiences in the treatment of people living with HIV/AIDS, relationship and dialogue with patients, barriers/facilitators to adherence, and effectiveness of available services. Barriers to ARV adherence were mainly related to the low quality of patient-provider relationship. Other barriers were related to "chaotic" patients' lifestyles, and inadequate knowledge and/or negative beliefs about HIV/AIDS and ARV effectiveness. It is necessary to improve networking between services, establish agile referral systems, and improve health professionals' integration. These structural changes could contribute to improved adherence, resulting in improved quality of life for people living with HIV/AIDS.     

Health and Treatment Implications of Food Insufficiency among People Living with HIV/AIDS,Atlanta, Georgia

HIV/AIDS is concentrated among the inner-city poor and poverty may directly interfere with HIV treatment. This study examined food insufficiency in relation to HIV-related health and treatment. A sample of 344 men and women living with HIV/AIDS in Atlanta, Georgia completed measures of food security, health, and HIV disease progression and treatment. HIV treatment adherence was monitored using unannounced pill counts. Results showed that half of people living with HIV/AIDS in this study lacked sufficient food, and food insufficiency was associated with multiple indicators of poor health, including higher HIV viral loads, lower CD4 cell counts, and poorer treatment adherence. Adjusted analyses showed that food insufficiency predicted HIV treatment non-adherence over and above years of education, employment status, income, housing, depression, social support, and non-alcohol substance use. Hunger and food insecurity are prevalent among people living with HIV/AIDS, and food insufficiency is closely related to multiple HIV-related health indicators, particularly medication adherence. Interventions that provide consistent and sustained meals to people living with HIV/AIDS are urgently needed.     

艾滋病病毒感染者/艾滋病患者及其家属生活质量和社会支持的研究

目的了解皖北农村地区艾滋病病毒感染者/艾滋病患者(HIV/AIDS)及其家属的生活质量和社会支持现状,分析其相关的影响因素。方法通过典型抽样法采用一般情况问卷、感染史本底资料调查表、生活质量综合评定问卷(GQOLI-74)和社会支持评定量表(SSS)对331名HIV/AIDS及其家属148名进行调查。结果单因素分析显示,不同性别、不同乡镇、不同文化程度的HIV/AIDS及其家属的GQOLI-74总分差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);不同年龄、不同乡镇HIV/AIDS的SSS总分差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。多元线性回归分析结果表明,高年龄、负性生活事件是影响HIV/ AIDS及其家属生活质量的不利因素,而高文化程度、好的邻里关系、烦恼诉说是影响HIV/AIDS及其家属生活质量的有利因素。结论诸多因素在不同层面影响皖北农村地区HIV/AIDS及其家属的生活质量和社会支持,农村现有的艾滋病社区关爱、社会支持工作还亟需加大力度,以家庭、邻里为依托的社区关爱模式有待建立。     

Wellness programmes for persons living with HIV/AIDS: Experiences from Eastern Cape province,South Africa

Abstract

Columbia University's International Centre for AIDS Care and Treatment Programmes (ICAP) supports the establishment of HIV prevention, care and treatment programmes, in resource-limited countries, through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. In South Africa (SA), ICAP has collaborated with the Eastern Cape Department of Health since 2004, to support HIV treatment and care programmes at public healthcare facilities in rural and urban areas. Adherence, psychosocial and other supportive services have been combined into Wellness Programmes that have been situated within hospital-based Wellness Centres in two rural regions, and integrated within primary healthcare facilities in a third. This paper reviews components of wellness services for people living with HIV/AIDS including: voluntary counselling and testing, disclosure and prevention, ongoing counselling, health literacy and peer education, community- and home-based care, adherence support, and associated comprehensive care continuums. It also describes local context in which the Wellness Programmes were established. Finally it describes processes, successes and challenges, with programme development, and useful indicators monitored, lessons learned and strategies to strengthen and expand such programmes. Insights provided may inform other efforts to create sustainable systems of interdisciplinary care and accessible psychosocial support for HIV-infected persons within public facilities in resource-constrained settings.     

医护人员对HIV感染者接受态度调查

目的了解某艾滋病高流行地区从事临床工作的医护人员对人类免疫缺陷病毒（HIV）感染者／艾滋病（AIDS）患者（简称PHA）的接受态度及影响因素。方法抽取该市2所市级综合性医院4所乡镇中心卫生院753名医护人员进行自填式问卷调查。结果绝大多数医护人员对HIV感染者／AIDS患者的接受程度处于中等水平。年龄、知识得分、医院级别、医护人员与HIV／AIDS的接触频率与医护人员的接受程度之间有关联。结论在对临床医护人员进行有关减少艾滋病偏见与歧视的培训或倡导工作中，应加强医护人员有关艾滋病临床知识、职业暴露和自我防护等方面的专业培训；加强对综合性医院以及青年医生的教育；加强对HIV／AIDS高频率接触的医护人员的心理咨询。     

HIV/AIDS病人生活质量及社会支持调查

目的 了解皖北农村地区人类免疫缺陷病毒（HIV）感染者／艾滋病（AIDS）病人的生活质量和社会支持现状，分析其相关的影响因素。方法 通过典型抽样法采用一般情况问卷、感染史本底资料调查表、生活质量综合评定问卷（GQOLI-74）和社会支持评定量表（SSS）对85名HIV感染者／AIDS病人进行调查。采用单因素方差和多元线性回归方法对调查结果进行分析。结果 单因素分析显示，不同性别、不同文化程度的HIV感染者／AIDS病人GQOLI-74总分差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）；不同乡镇的HIV感染者／AIDS病人SSS总分差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。多元线性回归分析结果表明，负性生活事件是影响HIV感染者／AIDS病人社会支持的不利因素。而好的邻里关系、烦恼诉说是影响HIV感染者／AIDS病人生活质量的有利因素。结论 诸多因素影响皖北农村地区HIV感染者／AIDS病人的生活质量和社会支持，农村应加强艾滋病社区关爱、社会支持工作，建立以家庭、邻里为依托的社区关爱模式。     

Prevention practices of primary health care physicians in Switzerland in the context of the HIV/Aids epidemic: changes between 1990 and 2002

BACKGROUND: Individual preventive counseling offered to the general public by private doctors working in primary health care is an essential component of the Swiss National Aids Prevention strategy. Surveys were conducted to assess to what extent they fulfill this role and how this may have changed over time. METHODS: Three cross-sectional surveys were conducted in 1990, 1995, and 2002 by anonymous mailed questionnaire in a random sample of primary health care physicians. Dimensions of the physicians HIV prevention practices investigated were: practice of HIV risk assessment, content and frequency of HIV pretest counseling, and, in 2002 only, care of patients living with HIV/AIDS. Trends over the 12-year period were calculated; logistic regressions were performed to investigate factors associated with the frequency of counseling given to HIV positive patients. RESULTS: Risk assessment has increased dramatically over the period for certain groups of patients (patients requesting contraception, young people and new patients). In 2002, routine screening is often or always performed by 93% of physicians for intravenous drug patients or patients with a sexually transmitted infection; 77% for homosexuals; 76% for patients requesting contraception; 63% for young people. It is less frequent in other groups (migrants: 40%; separated/divorced patients: 29%). More than half of physicians care for patients with HIV. Around two-thirds of physicians regularly discuss with their HIV positive patients issues related to patients' professional, social and private life. There are few differences among specialties regarding the propensity to discuss these topics. CONCLUSION: Prevention activities by primary care physicians have increased in the last decade. Nonetheless, potential for increased prevention still exists in some areas of risk assessment and counseling.     

Replicating PEPFAR's success: how interventions shown to be effective abroad can be applied to the AIDS epidemic in the US

The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which began in 2003, initially responded to the global AIDS epidemic by applying lessons learned in treating the disease in the United States to addressing the emergency abroad. As the program expanded, it evolved to support interventions increasingly tailored to local needs in countries receiving PEPFAR assistance. This global experience has created a knowledge base of how to provide HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment services in low-resource settings. It underscored the importance of treatment adherence, family-centered care, and integration of HIV into broader health care delivery systems. Applying these lessons can help US policy makers address existing gaps in HIV care in the United States, where the availability of HIV treatment has at times masked the continued need for testing, early diagnosis, targeted prevention for key populations, and a solid array of social services for people living with HIV/AIDS and their families. This article identifies PEPFAR practices that merit further exploration for adoption in the United States, including strategies to increase adherence to drug treatment regimens and to ensure that HIV services are broadly integrated with other aspects of health care.     

Recently released with HIV/AIDS: primary care treatment needs and experiences

The research objectives of this study are to describe the re-entry experiences of people recently released from jail who were living with HIV/AIDS, and to identify factors that influence their access to primary care and adherence to a treatment regimen. The research used a mixed-method, qualitative and quantitative research design. The findings indicate that the overall instability in the lives of many of the former inmates studied hampered their ability to attend to their HIV/AIDS-related health care needs. Most former inmates returned to the community with co-occurring problems related to housing and substance abuse. Complicating their access to health care were fragmented health care and correctional systems. The study highlights the need for coordination and collaboration between correctional facilities and community-based health care and human service providers that leads to a deliberative and planned transition from jail to service systems in the community.     

河南省4县艾滋病家庭收支及社区支持状况调查

目的了解4个项目县艾滋病感染者家庭的基本需求,为制定预防进一步传播、促进感染者健康生存和生活的综合社区健康促进策略提供依据。方法整群抽取患病家庭,然后按照一定的比例选取非患病家庭.采用联合国儿童基金会推荐的问卷对每个家庭的感染者进行现况调查。结果患病家庭的年经济收入、支出与非患病家庭相比有统计学差异（P〈0.05）,患病家庭的感染者艾滋病相关知识知晓率高于非患病家庭,二者有统计学差异（P〈0.01）,但对药物治疗、预防母婴传播及机会性感染的预防性治疗方面的信息仍然需要加强。结论社区综合健康促进策略可主要考虑提高患病者家庭的经济收入能力、药物依从性能力、机会性感染预防性治疗及预防母婴传播的能力。     

Position of The Canadian Dietetic Association and The American Dietetic Association: nutrition intervention in the care of persons with human immunodeficiency virus infection

The goals of nutrition intervention in HIV disease include early assessment and treatment of nutrient deficiencies, the maintenance and restoration of lean body mass, and support for activities of daily living and quality of life. The maintenance and restoration of nutritional stores is closely interrelated and interdependent with each of the other recommended medical therapies. Therefore, it is vital to the health of persons with HIV/AIDS to have access to the services of a registered dietitian, who is the essential member of the health care team for providing nutrition care (48). The registered dietitian should take an active role in developing nutrition care protocols for HIV/AIDS in their practice setting. The dietetic professional must take responsibility for obtaining and maintaining current knowledge in this area and take the lead in translating current nutrition knowledge and research into practical and realistic nutrition guidelines for the individual with HIV/AIDS. Further research is needed in the area of HIV/AIDS and nutrition. Registered dietitians and other members of the health care team are encouraged to conduct nutrition research in the area of nutrition interventions and outcomes of nutrition therapy. Additionally, government health related agencies, national AIDS-related organizations, and private industry should be encouraged to provide funding sources and support to the issue of research in nutrition related problems and interventions in HIV/AIDS.     

Psychosocial Differences Between Urban and Rural People Living With HIV/AIDS

Abstract: During the past decade, many investigations have examined the life circumstances of people living with HIV disease. Most of these studies, however, have focused on HIV-infected people in large metropolitan areas. This study compares the psychosocial profiles of rural and urban people living with HIV disease. Anonymous, self-administered surveys were completed by 276 people with HIV/AIDS in a Midwestern state. The assessment instrument measured respondents' quality of life, perceptions of loneliness, social support, experiences with AIDS-related discrimination, access to services, and illness-related coping strategies. Compared with their urban counterparts, rural people with HIV reported a significantly lower satisfaction with life, lower perceptions of social support from family members and friends, reduced access to medical and mental health care, elevated levels of loneliness, more community stigma, heightened personal fear that their HIV serostatus would be learned by others, and more maladaptive coping strategies. Programs that are designed to improve the life circumstances of people with HIV disease in rural areas—particularly those that facilitate access to adequate health care, increase perceptions of social support, and improve illness-related coping—are urgently needed.     

基于农村社区HIV/AIDS患者关怀支持活动模式的研究

目的探讨基于农村社区HIV/AIDS患者关怀支持活动模式。方法以农村社区为基础,由艾滋病防治专家、志愿者、社区医务人员、患者家属等组成关怀支持团队,通过开展培训、社区宣传教育、心理支持、患者交流、营养支持活动,为HIV/AIDS患者提供情感关爱和心理支持。结果本活动目标人群为150例HIV/AIDS患者,平均年龄为(44.61±10.78)岁,男性65人,女性85人。活动结束后抽取目标人群60例,采用《生存质量测定量表简表》测量其生存质量情况。活动前生存质量总分为(74.30±12.64)分,活动后总分为(84.95±16.31)分,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01)。结论建立以社区为基础的关怀支持体系,对充分发挥社区在艾滋病控制方面的参与功能、互助功能、整合功能及动员社会力量控制艾滋病传播方面有重要意义。     

Protective factors and resilience in people living with HIV/AIDS

The aim of this theoretical review was to articulate the resilience concept with key aspects in the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS. We emphasize the analysis of protective factors traditionally related to resilience (personal characteristics and social and affective support networks). The reviewed studies show important protective factors that contribute to the health and well-being of people with HIV/AIDS, such as cognitive coping and acceptance of their HIV status, family participation in treatment and family support, the role of governmental and nongovernmental institutions, and religious beliefs. The concept of resilience defined as a dynamic process that allows human beings to overcome adversities is essential for understanding HIV infection and treatment of AIDS patients. It helps decrease stigmatization and prejudice towards the disease and patients. It also helps alter the notion that living with AIDS is incompatible with well-being and quality of life and fosters the creation of new HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment perspectives.     

Structural barriers to ART adherence in Southern Africa: Challenges and potential ways forward

Abstract

Structural barriers to antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence are economic, institutional, political and cultural factors, that collectively influence the extent to which persons living with HIV follow their medication regimens. We identify three sets of structural barriers to ART adherence that are salient in Southern Africa: poverty-related, institutional, and political and cultural. Examples of poverty-related barriers are competing demands in the context of resource-constrained settings, the lack of transport infrastructure, food insecurity, the role of disability grants and poor social support. Examples of institutional factors are logistical barriers, overburdened health care facilities, limited access to mental health services and difficulties in ensuring adequate counselling. Examples of political and cultural barriers are controversies in the provision of treatment for AIDS, migration, traditional beliefs about HIV and AIDS, poor health literacy and gender inequalities. In forging a way forward, we identify ways in which individuals, communities and health care systems may overcome some of these structural barriers. Finally, we make recommendations for further research on structural barriers to ART adherence. In all likelihood, enhancing adherence to ART requires the efforts of a variety of disciplines, including public health, psychology, anthropology, sociology and medicine.     

Disciplined appetites: Reimagining food and nutrition programs for people living with HIV and AIDS

Aims

Medical nutrition therapy is recommended for people living with HIV/AIDS to improve health and wellness; however, there is a lack of food and nutrition programs for people living with HIV/AIDS in Nova Scotia, Canada. The aim of this study was to explore the beliefs, values, and experiences of people living with HIV/AIDS in relation to food and nutrition programs.

Methods

A critical social theory lens with two disciplinary contexts: critical health geography and critical dietetics guided this research. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 people living with HIV/AIDS and analysed for themes.

Results

The three main themes were identified: (1) intersections of social determinants of health, wellness, and food security; (2) discursive shaping of food and nutrition in relation to HIV; and (3) the dynamic nature of HIV care.

Conclusions

Participants offered recommendations on how food and nutrition programs might be reimagined to be more accessible, inclusive, and effective for people living with HIV/AIDS.     

The Unchecked HIV/AIDS Crisis in Mississippi

While the population of the southern United States is only 37% of the country’s total, this region is experiencing 50% of new HIV diagnoses and 46% of new AIDS diagnoses. Specifically, Mississippi has the highest rates of new infection, the most AIDS deaths, the greatest number of people living with HIV/AIDS, and the fewest resources. Mississippi has the highest death rate in the country: 32.9 per 1,000. A Mississippian with HIV/AIDS is almost twice as likely to die as the average American with the virus (SHARP Report, 2010). Compounding the problem are government policy issues, such as disproportionate program funding; socio-economic issues, such as widespread poverty, housing insecurity, and the lack of access to care; and cultural issues, such as homophobia and social stigma. These factors are reflected in this study which examines the needs of people living with HIV/AIDS in a southern, rural county of Mississippi. From a representative sample of 218 HIV positive individuals, researchers identified the levels of need for housing, transportation, medical care, mental health care, substance abuse treatment, and education. The author discusses the reciprocal influences of these needs and HIV, the need for policy changes at the state and federal levels, and the need for resources that both support people living with HIV/AIDS and curb the rate of new infections.     

The changing world of HIV care: The impact on health professionals

Recent advances in treatment have improved the health of many people living with HIV/AIDS. The research described in this paper shows that the changing context of care is also impacting significantly on people who provide services. In this paper, we explore both perspectives by comparing recent service provider data with that derived from research involving people living with HIV/AIDS. We explore four themes: (1) hope and optimism; (2) changing context, roles and identities; (3) changing relationships; and (4) quality of life. Treatment advances and a new focus on living has altered the context of working with people living with HIV/AIDS and challenges health professionals to find new meanings and relationships within that context. Study findings have implications for the wider health care context and the changing roles and power balances within this arena.     

Psychological distress, substance use, and adjustment among parents living with HIV

BACKGROUND: Being a parent, especially a custodial parent, living with HIV was anticipated to increase psychological distress and challenges to self-care. METHODS: Mental health symptoms, substance use, and health care utilization were assessed among 3818 HIV-infected adults, including custodial parents, noncustodial parents, and nonparents, in 4 AIDS epicenters. RESULTS: Custodial parents demonstrated significantly poorer medication adherence and attendance at medical appointments but were similar to nonparents and noncustodial parents in mental health symptoms and treatment utilization for mental health and substance use problems. Noncustodial parents demonstrated the highest levels of recent substance use and substance abuse treatment. Other markers of risk, such as African American ethnicity, lack of current employment income, and injection drug use moderated many of the apparent psychosocial disadvantages exhibited by parents. CONCLUSIONS: Interventions specific to the psychosocial stressors facing families living with HIV are needed.     

HIV Discrimination and the Health of Women Living with HIV

ABSTRACT

Women living with HIV are especially vulnerable to discrimination because of the stigma associated with the disease, as well as their race, gender and class status. To investigate the association between self-reported HIV discrimination and health outcomes among African-American and white women living with HIV, 366 women living with HIV were recruited from HIV/AIDS clinics in Georgia and Alabama. In this cross-sectional study, participants completed an interview that assessed self-reported HIV discrimination and depressive symptomatology, suicidal ideation, self-esteem, stress, quality of life, sexual health and HIV/AIDS related health care seeking. Nearly a sixth of the sample reported experiencing HIV discrimination. Women reporting HIV discrimination had higher mean scores for stress, suicidal ideation, depressive symptoms, number of unprotected sexual episodes; they had lower mean scores for self-esteem, and quality of life, and were more likely to have not sought medical care for HIV/AIDS. In race-specific analyses, none of the relationships between HIV discrimination and health outcomes were significant for white women. African-American women who reported HIV discrimination had higher mean scores for stress, suicidal ideation, depressive symptoms, number of unprotected sexual episodes; they had lower mean scores for self-esteem, and quality of life, and were more likely not to have sought medical care for HIV/AIDS. The findings indicated that HIV discrimination adversely affects women's mental, sexual and physical health. However, separate race-specific analyses indicated that compared to white women, African-American women were markedly more likely to experience the adverse affects of HIV discrimination. Eradication of HIV discrimination remains an important public health priority.